As part of ongoing efforts to improve account security, Microsoft will retire SMS (text message) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) and Voice Call Authentication effective February, 2027. Beginning December, 2026 UNBC will no longer support new registrations of SMS MFA or Voice Call Authentication. By making this change in December, this will reduce the impact on new students registering for MFA.
Why Is This Changing?
Microsoft is forcing organizations to move away from these methods due to their increased susceptibility to phishing, social engineering, SIM-swapping, and other credential theft attacks. While SMS MFA and Voice Call MFA provide additional security beyond passwords alone, it is no longer considered a strong authentication method compared to modern alternatives.
UNBC will strive to adopt more secure authentication methods, including:
- Microsoft Authenticator push notifications
- Passkeys
- FIDO2 security keys
- Other phishing-resistant authentication methods
What You Need To Do
If you are using either of these methods, before February, 2027 please:
- Visit My Sign-Ins to set up a new method or change to your preferred method. For further information see the following KB article: located at support.unbc.ca.
Users currently relying on SMS MFA or Voice Call Authentication must register an alternative authentication method before the retirement date. Users who have not configured a supported authentication method may experience sign-in interruptions.
Please confirm that you can successfully sign in without using SMS or Voice Call authentication codes.
Recommended Method: Microsoft Authenticator
Microsoft Authenticator provides:
- Push notifications for MFA approval
- Stronger protection against phishing attacks
- Faster sign-in experiences
- Support for passwordless authentication or phishing-resistant passkeys.