Changes to signing in to your work email and Microsoft 365

As part of changes to our authentication arrangements, we will be moving away from using SMS text messages and telephone calls as methods of approving a sign-in.

For ministers who have a suitable smartphone, authentication can be carried out using the Microsoft Authenticator app.

If you do not have a suitable smartphone, you do not need to purchase one. We will provide you with a hardware authentication device that you can use instead. This is a small device that allows you to securely authenticate when signing in.

Aspira, the company that manages our email service, would like to contact affected staff directly to:

• arrange delivery of the authentication device;
• explain how the device works;
• help you set it up; and
• make sure that you can continue to access your email and Microsoft 365 services.

If you do not have a smartphone that you can use for Microsoft Authenticator, please let us know so that we can arrange for Aspira to contact you.

There is no need to purchase any equipment yourself.

Thank you for your cooperation with this change. It will help us maintain secure access to our systems while ensuring that staff who do not use smartphones have an appropriate alternative.

Michael Hampton (IT Infrastructure Manager)