The Future of Student Authentication

9 October 2024

The Educational space is undeniably fast-paced and complex. Students juggle multiple responsibilities and roles throughout their time. Whether as a prospective student, student, alumni, or even employed by the university, the roles and access that they require differs for each stage. With this, comes the requirement for multiple passwords and access permissions, both causing additional complications for individual and institution. These two complications can be major problems, but with passwordless authentication solutions, this can be a key first step towards transformative change. A major challenge they often face is securing access to multiple systems, each requiring different usernames and passwords.

As institutions seek to enhance security without compromising user experience, passwordless authentication has emerged as a revolutionary solution. With Microsoft Entra, particularly its Verified ID and Face Check feature, institutions can provide a seamless, secure, and future-proof experience for students.

 

The Need for a Seamless, Secure Student Experience

Traditional login systems rely heavily on passwords, which pose various challenges for both students and institutions:

  1. Memory Overload: Students have a lot to remember, and with the need to have different passwords for multiple systems such as learning management systems, email, library and campus portals, the pressure the students feel is often exemplified. Passwordless authentication can help take some of this weight off.
  2. Security Risks: Reusing passwords or choosing weak ones can expose students to cyber threats, making institutional systems vulnerable to breaches. A compromised password on one platform can lead to unauthorised access on others, creating a ripple effect of vulnerabilities. Hackers can use various techniques to gain access to sensitive data, such as student records, financial information, or even institutional research.
  3. Inefficient Support: Students who forget their passwords often need to contact the service desk which can be a cumbersome and time-consuming process. Not only this but they are often required to provide personal information to verify their identity, creating potential security risks and data breaches as a result of sharing personal information over the phone or through insecure communication channels.

These challenges point to the need for an authentication solution that improves both the user experience and bolsters security.

 

What is Passwordless Authentication?

Passwordless authentication with Microsoft Entra is a modern approach to logging in to systems and verifying user identities. This is done by replacing traditional passwords with alternative authentication methods, such as biometrics (fingerprints, facial recognition), PINs, or hardware tokens. Microsoft Entra, a comprehensive identity and access management platform, brings this to life with cutting-edge tools like Verified ID and Face Check, offering a seamless authentication experience without the need for passwords.

Providing a secure, user-friendly, and efficient way to manage digital identities, Microsoft Entra’s passwordless authentication is particularly useful in environments like higher education where seamless and secure access is crucial.

 

Microsoft Entra Verified ID and Face Check: A Game-Changer

Microsoft Entra’s Verified ID allows institutions to issue and verify digital identity credentials for student authentication. These credentials are securely stored on the student’s device, ensuring they are always accessible yet protected. This system provides universal access, enabling students to authenticate their identity across various platforms, both within the institution and externally. By storing credentials on the student’s device, Microsoft Entra also ensures that personal data is not unnecessarily shared or stored on multiple platforms, reducing the risk of data breaches. Additionally, Verified ID credentials are designed to work seamlessly with different systems and services, making it easier for institutions to integrate this solution into their existing infrastructure.

The Face Check feature is where the real magic happens, which leverages facial recognition technology to authenticate users. Recently made generally available in August, Face Check allows individuals to verify their identity quickly and securely without the need for passwords. By comparing a live image of the user with a stored facial template, Face Check ensures that only the authorised person can access their account. This method enhances security, protects personal information, and simplifies the login process, making it particularly useful in environments like higher education where students need seamless and secure access to multiple systems and services.

 

Simplifying Student Onboarding and Support

One of the primary use cases for passwordless authentication with Microsoft Entra’s Verified ID and Face Check is the ability to enhance the student onboarding process. Traditionally a tedious and extensive process, with passwordless authentication, students can easily verify their identity using facial recognition instead of lengthy manual document checks – thereby reducing the need for physical paperwork, and dramatically speeding up the process. Once their identity is verified through Entra Face Check, students can gain immediate access to student portals, virtual learning platforms, and other university resources, eliminating delays caused by traditional onboarding processes.

Student support services are another key area benefitted by passwordless authentication. Imagine a scenario where a student needs assistance from the service desk but has forgotten their password. Traditionally, the service desk would ask for personal information like the student’s date of birth or student ID number to verify their identity, which could be both time-consuming and risky.

With Microsoft Entra, this process becomes much simpler and more secure. Students can authenticate themselves using the Verified ID and Face Check feature, eliminating the need to provide personal information over the phone. This approach ensures:

  • Privacy: Personal information is no longer shared over insecure channels, protecting students’ sensitive data.
  • Efficiency: The service desk can quickly verify the student’s identity and proceed with solving their issue, reducing wait times and improving the overall support experience.
  • Security: Face Check adds a robust layer of protection, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access sensitive systems.
  • Improved user experience: The quick and seamless authentication provides students a more convenient experience when it comes to being onboarded – a key stage in the student’s journey, where first impressions are initially set.

By leveraging passwordless authentication, students no longer need to hunt for old, physical documents, remember complex passwords or share personal details to prove their identity. This not only enhances security for both parties but makes it easier for students to manage their login details across multiple systems. The result is a seamless and secure student experience, where support services are more efficient and personal data is better protected, from applicant to alumni.

 

Benefits of Passwordless Authentication for Students

  1. No More Passwords to Remember: Students no longer need to manage multiple passwords for different services, making their day-to-day interactions with educational systems much smoother.
  2. Stronger Security: With biometrics like facial recognition, students’ accounts are far more secure than traditional password-based systems, reducing the risk of phishing attacks or brute-force hacking attempts.
  3. Enhanced User Experience: The ease of logging in with a single authentication method simplifies system access, making it easier for students to focus on learning rather than tech hurdles
  4. Cross-Platform Integration: Microsoft Entra supports integration across various platforms, allowing students to authenticate across multiple systems with a single credential, and provides a consistent login experience across platforms and services.
  5. Empowerment and Control: Students have more control over their authentication process, reducing reliance on IT support for password resets and related issues. With secure and easy access, students can manage their academic and personal information more independently offering elevated autonomy.

By adopting passwordless authentication with Microsoft Entra, students benefit from a more secure, convenient, and efficient digital experience, allowing them to focus more on their education and less on managing their login credentials.

 

How Institutions Can Benefit from Entra’s Passwordless Solution

Educational institutions like universities can greatly benefit from Microsoft Entra’s passwordless authentication solutions. Enhanced security is a major advantage, as eliminating passwords reduces the risk of phishing attacks and credential theft. Features like Verified ID and Face Check provide robust, multi-factor authentication, protecting both student and institutional data. With cyberattacks growing year after year and fraud and scam complaints hitting their highest-ever level in the UK, bolstering your cybersecurity defences has never been more paramount.

The quick and easy authentication with passwordless solutions, boosts institutions’ operational efficiency, as IT departments spend less time on password resets and service desks can verify identities quickly, reducing wait times, and therefore enabling them to work on other priorities.

Privacy and compliance are key benefits, with personal information no longer shared over insecure channels. Advanced authentication methods help institutions comply with data protection regulations. Microsoft Entra’s solutions are scalable and flexible, easily adapting to accommodate a large number of users and integrating with various systems used in higher education.

Finally, the academic focus is improved, with fewer login issues and faster access to resources allowing students to concentrate more on their studies and increasing academic performance. By adopting Microsoft Entra’s passwordless authentication solutions, universities can enhance their reputation, improving the educational experience for students and staff alike, and ultimately elevating their position as a forward-thinking, institution within the higher education space.

 

Future-Proofing Student Authentication

As educational institutions continue to evolve, the need for secure, user-friendly systems becomes paramount. Microsoft Entra’s passwordless authentication offers a future-proof solution that strengthens security while simplifying the user experience. With solutions like Verified ID and Face Check, institutions can create a frictionless, secure experience, allowing students to focus on their education without being bogged down by technology.

This implementation marks the beginning of many Universities adopting zero-trust principles: Verify explicitly, Use least privilege access, and Assume breach. Passwordless authentication and Face Check provide foundational building blocks to support these principles. As universities look to future-proof their systems, integrating robust zero-trust strategies will become essential for safeguarding both their data and user experiences.

The future of student authentication is here, and it’s passwordless.

 

If you would like to know more about how Condatis can leverage Microsoft Entra to aid your Educational Institution, please get in touch using the form below, or find out more here. We’d love to help you!

 

 

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