Published on: 23 May 2023

PLEASE CAN MANAGERS ENSURE ALL COLLEAGUES ARE AWARE OF THE BELOW INFORMATION. 

Preparing for Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) 

The way you access your NHS Mail account is changing. When you log in at the moment, you enter your email address and password on the login page. To improve security, changes are being made which will affect the way you log in, in future.  

In the coming months NHS Digital will introduce Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This adds another way of checking that it is really you when you log in to your account. As well as your email address and password, you will be asked for some extra information. 

MFA is used to add extra security to your NHS Mail account 

You might have used MFA before. It is often used to access internet banking, online shopping and social media apps. You will need to set up one of several extra ways to prove who you are. There are lots of ways you can do this. For example, using an authentication app on your mobile phone or registering to receive a text message. You can also register your NHS smartcard for those that have them. Other options are also available for those that can’t use these methods.  

Over the summer you will need to use MFA to access your NHS Mail account 

From July, you will need to setup MFA on your NHS Mail account. 

This will be something everyone has to do. However, you will only need to enter these extra details when you log into NHS Mail from an external network. This also includes when you access NHS Mail on a mobile device when away from work.  

We advise you to set up MFA in your NHS Mail account ASAP. This will help stop you from being locked out of your account. 

When will this change take place? 

MFA will become a requirement from July 2023. We recommend that you take action as soon as possible. 

What do I need to do? 

Colleagues are encouraged to register for MFA now. This is to help us to prepare before it becomes mandatory. This way, you can make the change at a time that’s convenient for you. You’ll have a chance to get used to it. You won’t risk losing access to your NHS Mail account. 

How do I set up MFA? 

You can set up MFA on your account yourself. It’s a straightforward process and should only take a few minutes. You can do this by following the simple instructions available on the intranet: Multi Factor Authentication :: South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust Intranet (stsft.nhs.uk). There is also a helpful user guide here. 

What if I don’t setup MFA? 

If you don’t setup MFA on your NHS Mail account you may lose access to your account. We would encourage you to set up MFA as soon as possible. If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact the IT Service Desk.  

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