Duo for Students, Retirees & Guests
TU faculty and staff have used Duo multi-factor 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
2024
- spring: project planning, soft communications
- summer: project planning, technical work
- July-Aug.: newly admitted students are required to use Duo, current student opt-in begins at towson.edu/netid
- fall: campus communications, outreach. Continued student opt-in at towson.edu/netid
- Oct.: retirees and faculty emeriti opt-in begins at towson.edu/netid
2025
- Feb.-April: all remaining students will be auto-enrolled by TU and will need to configure their accounts at towson.edu/netid
- spring: Duo MFA enrollment is required for all NetID holders
What is Duo?
Duo is a security method that requires a second (“multi”) form of identification to help you securely log into 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
When will I have to start using Duo?
- Faculty and staff already use Duo.
- Newly admitted students will use Duo starting in July/Aug.
- Current students/student employees will use Duo by 2025. You can opt-in early to start using Duo to better protect your account starting in July at towson.edu/netid. Student accounts will be auto-enrolled by TU Feb/April 2025.
- Retirees and faculty emeriti will use Duo by spring 2025. You can opt-in early Oct. 2024-Feb. 2025 at towson.edu/netid. Retiree and faculty emeriti accounts will be auto-enrolled by TU March-April 2025
- Guests will use Duo by spring 2025. Rollout details to be shared when available.
Which TU systems require Duo? And will I have to use Duo every time I login?
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.
What if I don’t own a smartphone or if I don’t have it with me?
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.