Cybersecurity threats in higher education and research environments continue to evolve, and attackers are becoming more skilled at bypassing traditional defenses. One of the most effective ways to safeguard accounts and sensitive data is through multi-factor authentication (MFA).
What MFA Is
Multi-factor authentication adds an extra step to the login process beyond just a password. To access an account, a user must provide two or more forms of verification:
- Something you know (e.g., password or PIN)
- Something you have (e.g., phone, hardware token, smart card)
- Something you are (e.g., fingerprint, facial recognition)
Even if one factor—such as a password—is compromised, the attacker still cannot log in without the other factors.
Why MFA Is Important
Higher education and research institutions are prime targets for cyberattacks. They hold valuable intellectual property, sensitive personal data, and high-value credentials that can be exploited for profit or espionage. Password breaches are common, and phishing campaigns frequently target faculty, staff, students, and affiliates.
MFA significantly reduces the risk of account compromise. Studies have shown it can block over 99% of automated attacks and most phishing-related breaches.
How MFA Is Used
MFA can take different forms:
- A one-time passcode sent via text message or authenticator app
- A push notification to a registered mobile device
- A hardware security key (e.g., YubiKey)
- Biometric verification such as fingerprint or facial scan
These methods can be applied to email accounts, VPN access, cloud services, learning management systems, research databases, and administrative portals.
Why MFA Works
MFA is effective because it forces an attacker to compromise more than one layer of defense. A stolen password alone is not enough. Even if attackers trick someone into revealing login credentials, they still cannot complete the second verification step.
In a sector where data access spans multiple networks and collaborations cross institutional boundaries, MFA helps maintain trust and integrity.
Across the Board: Personal and Professional Use
For higher education and research institution affiliates, MFA should not be limited to campus accounts. The same protections are critical for personal email, banking, social media, and cloud storage. Cyberattacks often begin with personal accounts and move laterally to professional systems. Protecting both reduces the attack surface.
REN-ISAC, OmniSOC, and MFA’s Role in Threat Response
The Research and Education Networks Information Sharing and Analysis Center (REN-ISAC) strongly advocates MFA adoption across all accounts—academic, research, and personal. As part of its mission to improve the cybersecurity posture of higher ed and research, REN-ISAC provides guidance and shares threat intelligence that consistently shows MFA as a top preventive measure.
OmniSOC, our shared cybersecurity operations center serving member institutions, monitors networks for signs of malicious activity in real time. When MFA is in place, it often stops credential-based attacks before they succeed, allowing OmniSOC’s analysts to focus on detecting and responding to more sophisticated threats. The combination of REN-ISAC’s community-driven best practices and OmniSOC’s operational vigilance creates a stronger defense for the higher ed and research community.
MFA is not a silver bullet, but it is one of the simplest and most effective steps any member of the higher ed and research community can take. Every login is a possible entry point for an attacker. Every account you protect with MFA closes one more door.