Air Force Academy improves academic network security

U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – The Air Force Academy added another layer of protection to its network with multi-factor authentication, which allows users to access websites or applications with two or more credentials.

“Something you know, such as a password; something you have, such as a passcode; and something you are, such as a fingerprint,” said Paul Rumpler, the Academy’s network operations chief.

Multi-factor authentication went live at the school for all staff, faculty and cadets who use the Office 365 network, April 8.  

“If the login for an Office 365 account is compromised, requiring a code from an authentication source to log in will help ensure the operational capabilities of the Academy are protected,” Rumpler said.

Col. Harold Hoang, the Academy’s director of communications and information, said implementing MFA was the right move.

“We have criminals online who steal identities, personal information, credentials and national security information,” he said. “Using the MFA process, we’ve added another layer of security to our mission.”