Maynooth University IT Services

The MU Support Portal is a web-based self-service and support system; it is the primary point of contact between IT Services and the University community. All staff and students of both MU and SPPU may use this service to make an IT service request or raise an IT issue or incident. You may access the Support Portal anytime 24x7, however the service is staffed from Monday – Friday, 9am to 5pm, therefore, aside from the initial auto-reply, you will receive a response to your query during hours of availability only.

The MU Support Portal is available at the following URL: https://mu.ie/supportportal

There are a number of desktop computers available on both the North and South Campus, available for students to use. Please refer to the Computing Facilities Locations for further information. Please also refer to the opening hours for access to these devices. 

Also, eligible students may also have the option of borrowing a laptop on campus on a short or long term basis, please review the following information from the Maynooth University Access Programme (MAP): Laptop Loan Scheme

Yes, there are currently more than 60 software apps available via AppsAnywhere, which is a service that enables students to use University licensed software on their own devices, or via the Public Access Computer Room PCs. For further information, refer to the following webpage: AppsAnywhere @ MU

If you are NOT registered for Self Service Password Reset (SSPR) and you DO NOT know your current password, we would advise staff to contact the Service Desk via extn. 3830 and students to contact the dedicated Student Support Team via the 'ask' button at the end of the following webpage: Information for Students. 

If you are NOT registered for SSPR and you DO know your current password, we would advise you to register for SSPR immedaitely via the following URL: My Account Security

While the Service Desk is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and the Student Support Service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 9:30pm (during term time), once you are registered for Self Service Password Reset (SSPR), you may reset your password via the following URL: https://aka.ms/sspr - change your password any time, no waiting. 

If you wish to use Mathworks - Matlab, please refer to the following webpage: https://uk.mathworks.com/products/matlab-online.html

The IT Services Student Support Team provide a dedicated chat service to students of MU and SPPU. This service is available Monday - Friday from 9am - 9:30pm (during term time). To use this service, look for the 'ask' button at the lower right of the following webpage: Information for Students
 

Yes, all staff and students of MU and SPPU have access to install Microsoft Office 365 apps on up to five personal devices. To install this on your device, please refer to the following Microsoft guide: Download and install Microsoft 365 on a PC or Mac

If you are NOT registered for Self Service Password Reset (SSPR) and you DO NOT know your current password, we would advise staff to contact the Service Desk via extn. 3830 and students to contact the dedicated Student Support Team via the 'ask' button at the end of the following webpage: Information for Students. 

If you are NOT registered for SSPR and you DO know your current password, we would advise you to register for SSPR immedaitely via the following URL: My Account Security

While the Service Desk is available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and the Student Support Service is available Monday to Friday 9am to 9:30pm (during term time), once you are registered for Self Service Password Reset (SSPR), you may reset your password via the following URL: https://aka.ms/sspr - change your password any time, no waiting. 

Yes. Office 365 is available to University users anywhere in the world.

Use the official Microsoft Outlook app to access your mail. This can downloaded from the relevant app store.

For information on how to connect to the MU VPN please click here 

General information regarding the VPN service can be found on our website:

https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/it-services/vpn-service-users-myvpn

MultiFactor Authentication (MFA) is an extra layer of security for your University account, in addition to your password. This additional security involves the verification of your identity using an additional factor, e.g. one factor may be something you know, such as a password or PIN, and the additional factor may be something your have, such as a smartphone. This prevents others from accessing your account, even if they know your password. 

Information Security is everyone’s business, and the University has a responsibility to students, staff, and anyone who trusts us with their data, to ensure that data is secure at all times. MFA helps fight against phishing, social engineering and password brute-force attacks. Due to ever more sophisticated security incidents and the increasing number of account compromises, MU uses MFA to protect MU users and their data against attackers exploiting weak or stolen credentials.

MFA will be required for all applications that currently use Office365 to log on to, including Moodle, access to Library resources and other MU systems.

In today's ever increasing threat environment, a password simply isn't enough by itself, and it is alarmingly easy for attackers to steal one form of authentication, but it is much more difficult to steal multiple forms. Therefore, from the 14th of February 2024, MFA Everywhere will be enabled, which will mean that MFA will be required on and off campus; while working from home, travelling, or working on campus, you must complete MFA authentication when using Office 365 or accessing other online MU services. 

Update on 14-Mar-2024:
MFA Everywhere and the move to the more secure Microsoft Authenticator App - these changes are on the way! The original deadline of the 14th of February 2024 was extended to allow users more time to update their provision and also for additional user support options to be available. The new deadline is confirmed as the 18th of April 2024. Further details will follow on additional supports to enable this change.

In today's ever increasing threat environment, a password simply isn't enough by itself, and it is alarmingly easy for attackers to steal one form of authentication, but it is much more difficult to steal multiple forms. Therefore, from the 18th of April 2024, MFA Everywhere will be enabled for all MU staff and students, which will mean that MFA will be required both on and off campus; while working from home, travelling, or working on campus, you must complete MFA authentication when using Office 365 or accessing other online MU services. 

If you are unable to use the Microsoft Authenticator App, and to ensure you experience no disruption, please let us know immediately using the form on the MU Support Portal at the following URL: MFA - Alternative Method of Authentication.

Yes, due to ever more sophisticated attempts by attackers to gain unlawful access to user accounts and data, not all MFA approval methods are considered equally secure. Therefore, in light of the recent global instances of compromises, Microsoft are running a campaign to move users away from SMS authentication approval to the Authenticator App. MFA approvals via SMS is no longer recommended by Microsoft; starting from the 8th of January 2024, all MFA users will be presented with a prompt to setup the Authenticator App if you have not already done so. For further information on how to use the Authenticator App, please refer to the following information from Microsoft: How to use the Microsoft Authenticator App.

If you are unable to use the Microsoft Authenticator App, and to ensure you experience no disruption, please let us know immediately using the form on the MU Support Portal at the following URL: MFA - Alternative Method of Authentication.

There is no cost associated with authenticating with your phone.

You can use the following link to reconfigure your MFA options: https://aka.ms/MFASetup 

If you use your mobile number for MFA, it is stored in encrypted format as part of your logon account. Only you can view and change it. It is not accessible to IT Services staff or others.

The Microsoft Authenticator App does not need coverage/data to generate the code used to sign in, with the exception of push notifications; the app will continue to generate a code as required. However, if you use SMS as the MFA Authentication method, you will need coverage to receive the SMS. 

Please be aware that Microsoft are running a campaign to move users away from SMS authentication approval to the Authenticator App, as a more secure form of MultiFactor Authentication (MFA). This move is due to ever more sophisticated attempts by attackers to gain unlawful access to user accounts and data; MFA approvals via voice or SMS are considered the weakest forms of authentication. This campaign was started on the 8th of January 2024, therefore, we would encourage you to setup the Microsoft Authenticator app on your phone as soon as is convenient. 

• For Apple devices, go to the Apple Store and search for Microsoft Authenticator, or click here. 
• For Android devices, go to the Play Store and search for Microsoft Authenticator, or click here.

While MFA is currently only required when accessing MU services off campus only, from the 14th of February 2024, MFA Everywhere will be enabled, which will mean that MFA will be required both on and off campus; while working from home, travelling, or working on campus, you must complete MFA authentication when using Office 365 or accessing other online MU services. 

Update on 14-Mar-2024:
MFA Everywhere and the move to the more secure Microsoft Authenticator App - these changes are on the way! The original deadline of the 14th of February 2024 was extended to allow users more time to update their provision and also for additional user support options to be available. The new deadline is confirmed as the 18th of April 2024. Further details will follow on additional supports to enable this change.

If you still have your old device:

• Go to My Sign-Ins | Security Info | Microsoft.com and sign in with your MU username and password. 
• Select + Add sign in method and follow the on-screen prompts to configure the Microsoft Authenticator app on your new phone.
• Once your new phone has been added, you may delete your old phone from the same Security Info screen.

To back up and recover account credentials in the Authenticator app, via the following guide from Microsoft: Authenticator app backup on IOS and Android devices

If you no longer have your old device, contact the dedicated Student Support Team via the 'Ask' button at the bottom right of this webpage. 

For anyone who loses their phone, the process for handling these requests is currently under review, please check back regularly for all updates. 
 

An unsolicited request to approve a logon that you have not initiated usually means that someone else knows your logon username and password, and are trying to use it. Do not approve these requests and change your password immediately using https://mypassword.maynoothuniversity.ie/ and contact Service Desk at 01 708 3830. 

If you are unable to use the Microsoft Authenticator App, and to ensure you experience no disruption, please let us know immediately using the form on the MU Support Portal at the following URL: MFA - Alternative Method of Authentication.

If you return to the configuration page on this link: https://aka.ms/MFASetup,you should see all your choices.

The Microsoft Authenticator app for Android is currently available in the following stores in China: Samsung, Oppo, Baidu and Lenovo. For further information, please see the following: Microsoft Authenticator App

For details on Laptop Encryption please click here

For details on Data Security and/or Email Security please click here

Remember that we will never ask you to email us your account password. If you receive a suspicious email do not respond to the sender, delete the message or contact [email protected] for clarification.

Use the official Microsoft Outlook app to access your mail. This can downloaded from the relevant app store.