Duo for Students, Retirees & Guests

TU faculty and staff have used Duo multifactor authentication (MFA) since 2017. This project expands Duo protection to students, student employees, faculty emeriti, retirees and guest accounts by spring 2025. This means everyone with a TU NetID will use Duo when accessing protected TU services.

Project Timeline

  • spring 2024: project planning, soft communications
  • summer 2024: project planning, technical work and potential opt-in opportunities
  • fall 2024, early spring 2025: campus communications, outreach, opt-in opportunities
  • spring 2025: Duo MFA enrollment is required for all NetID holders (exact timing to be announced)

What is Duo?

Duo is a security method that requires a second (“multi”) form of identification to help you securely login to systems the university wants to strongly protect. This proves you initiated the login by providing a randomized, automatically generated number that authenticates you for a single login session. Even if a criminal manages to steal your password, they won’t be able to access your data, thanks to Duo.

How does it work?

Logging into multifactor authentication requires something you know (like your TU NetID and password) and something you have (like Duo app or texted codes). The easiest way to authenticate is to use the Duo app on your phone. There are back-up options if you don’t have your phone.

Key Benefits

Expanding Duo MFA to all NetID holders will:

  • reduce risk of phishing attacks and compromised accounts, in turn reducing potential security breaches of university and individual data
  • improve TU’s security standards to match other higher ed institutions and private corporations
  • address compliance, University System of Maryland (USM) security requirements and Maryland Office of Legislative Audits (OLA)

General Project FAQs

  • Faculty and staff already use Duo.
  • Students/student employees will use Duo by spring 2025. If you’d like to use Duo to start better protecting your account before spring 2025, opt-in registration will be available starting this fall. Check back for the sign-up form.
  • Retirees, faculty emeriti and guests will use Duo by spring 2025, rollout details to be shared when available. 

Almost all of TU’s systems are protected by Duo. Single-Sign On (SSO) helps reduce the number of times you need to log in — but it is required when prompted.

No smartphone, no problem. You can use the Duo mobile app on a tablet, receive codes to a phone that can use text SMS, use your own security key or a previously created (printed) bypass code. It’s recommended that you enroll multiple devices when registering for Duo so you can have a backup ready.

Support

Questions? Submit a TechHelp service request. Learn more about Duo and how faculty/staff are using it at towson.edu/duo. 

More support options, including TechHelp Knowledge Base articles will be available as the project progresses.

News

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