MFA Help

• To set up MFA with the Okta Verify app you will need a smartphone and access to the iOS App Store or Google Play. The Okta Verify app is free to download and use.
  For more information about the smartphone requirements head to the external Okta website.
• To set up SMS Authentication you will need an active phone connection.

If you don't have a phone, IT Support can set up alternative authentication via secret security questions.
However, whereas the Okta Verify app and SMS Authentication lasts for 30 days, you will be required to answer your security questions each time you log in. Contact IT Support to set up your security questions (contact details at the end of this page).

Okta Verify (push notification) can only be set up on one device, we suggest you download the Okta Verify app onto your primary device.

If you use two devices, you can set up SMS Authentication on your secondary device. To do this, sign into login.uts.edu.au and click on your name on the right hand side of page. From the dropdown menu that appears, select 'SMS Authentication' from 'Extra Verification' and follow the prompts to set up SMS Authentication on your second device (be sure to enter the mobile number of your second device for SMS Authentication).

Yes, you can use the Okta Verify app or SMS Authentication on more than one account.

However, there are some additional considerations when switching between accounts, and they differ between web and mobile apps. See the 'Options for accessing your accounts if you are both a staff and a student' section of the Setup page.

Yes you can set up your MFA from anywhere - just make sure you have everything you need (see Set Up MFA for requirements). 

Okta requires your full UTS email address, which usually includes your first name and last name, and may include an additional initial or number, e.g.

• jane.citizen@student.uts.edu.au
• jane.g.citizen@student.uts.edu.au
• jane.citizen-1@student.uts.edu.au

Note that other forms of UTS IDs, such as your student ID number ("123456789") or ID email ("123456789@student.uts.edu.au") will not work.

If you can't remember your email address, you can retrieve it from UTS: MyAccount, or speak to IT Support (details at end of page).

• Ensure you centre the frame on your mobile device over the QR code on your monitor.
• If you have enlarged your browser screen, this may distort the QR code. Try resizing to standard setting and try again.
• If this doesn’t work, click on ‘Can’t Scan’ underneath the QR code on monitor to have a link sent to you by SMS to set up Okta Verify app without QR code. Alternatively, you can set up the SMS Authentication instead.

Okta uses your internet service provider's location for MFA, which may be different from your home or work location, particularly if you are behind a VPN. Okta Verify doesn't access any location data on your phone – location information is provided by your internet provider. If you did actually sign in and were expecting the confirmation, no further action is required.

If you are using a shared computer, for example in the UTS Library or computer lab, remember to Sign Out of your Okta app dashboard at the end of your session.

• Go to login.uts.edu.au
• Click on your profile name in the drop right of the dashboard and select 'Sign out' from the dropdown

If you're experiencing a Single Sign On - Authentication error or 404 Error when activating your account - you'll need to try and apply using a Private/Incognito window and be logged out of any other active Microsoft 365 sessions (e.g. Microsoft Outlook, university or work accounts etc.) that could be preventing you from logging in.

Your existing authenticated devices (eg. your laptop) will remain logged in for 30 days from your last authentication. In some cases, this will give you enough time to replace your phone and set up and a new MFA. However, if you're waiting for a replacement we strongly recommend setting up temporary access so that you're not locked out when your previous authentication expires.

IMPORTANT: To prevent losing access to your accounts before you have reset MFA on a new device, you can request temporary access to your account from IT Support. They will help you set up a secret security question. This will prevent you from being locked out until your new phone arrives and is set up.

Once your new phone arrives, contact IT Support to reset MFA, then go through the regular setup process at login.uts.edu.au

You can contact IT Support (details at the end of this page) by:

• Phone - call from your new phone, borrow a phone, use a payphone, or use an internet phone service that can call landlines.
• ServiceConnect - if you still have access to your email, you can log a service ticket requesting temporary access or a MFA reset. This is not available to you 30 days after your last sign-on.
• On campus - If you are near the Broadway campus you can contact IT Support by calling 2222 from an internal phone - internal phones are available from Security on Level 3 of Building 1 (the UTS Tower), from all classrooms, and other locations around camu.

Your existing authenticated devices (eg. your laptop) will remain logged in for 30 days from your last authentication. In some cases, this will give you enough time to replace your phone and set up and a new MFA. However, if you're waiting for a replacement we strongly recommend setting up temporary access so that you're not locked out when your previous authentication expires.

IMPORTANT: To prevent losing access to your UTS systems before you have reset MFA on a new device, you can request temporary access to your account from IT Support. They will help you set up a secret security questions. This will prevent being locked out until your new phone arrives and is set up.

Once your new phone arrives, contact IT Support to reset MFA, then go through the first time setup process at login.uts.edu.au

You can contact IT Support (details at end of page) by:

• Phone - call from your new phone, borrow a phone, use a payphone, or use an internet phone service that can call landlines
• ServiceConnect - if you still have access to your email, you can log a service ticket requesting temporary access or an MFA reset. This is not available to you 30 days after your last sign-on.

If you don't have access to a phone capable of calling an international landline, and you do not have access to your email, then please contact your International Liason Officer/supervisor/manager at UTS, who can log a ticket on your behalf.

Since your login lasts for 30 days on any authenticated devices, in many cases you will still be able to access UTS systems to submit assignments even if you lose your phone that day. It is important that you set up emergency access just in case until you've replaced it (see "What do I do if I've lost my phone?" above)

In most other cases, IT Support is available for extended hours to assist you in resetting your MFA, or to set up temporary access.

Hours of operation

• Monday to Friday — 8:00am to 9:30pm AEST/AEDT
• Saturday and Sunday — 9:00am to 5:00pm AEST/AEDT

In the unlikely, but not impossible event that you lose access at a critical moment outside of these support hours, there are two recommended courses of action:

• If an assessment is due, email a copy of your assigment to your teacher/faculty. A timestamped copy of your submission will be much easier to resolve.
• Contact IT Support as soon as they open the next day. They will log your support request, can verify from your account that you lost access to or had any other issues, and can provide an IT case number if you need to lodge an appeal. Formally submit your assessment as soon as your access is restored.

Multi-factor authentication adds an additional layer of account security by requiring two or more pieces of information to gain access to our applications and data. Even if a cyber-criminals know your password, the added verification step will stop them accessing accounts and key information. Additionally having MFA enables UTS to have a single sign-on dashboard, bringing UTS applications together in one place.

Single sign-on (or SSO), is exactly what it sounds like - one username and password to access multiple applications. You sign in once and you have access to the UTS applications you need without being prompted to sign in for each one.

Yes, you can. You can also use the dashboard at login.uts.edu.au to access UTS applications on the dashboard.