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WHAT’S HAPPENING? 
Per OIT’s message below, Basic Authentication for Georgia Tech email will be disabled. After it is disabled, all users will automatically have to use two-factor authentication to log into email.

WHEN IS IT HAPPENING? 
Tuesday, November 10, 2020 

WHY IS IT HAPPENING? 
To heighten the security of Georgia Tech’s email service.

WHO IS AFFECTED?
Everyone. 

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO DO?
Possibly reconfigure your email based on the mail clients listed below. 

WHO SHOULD YOU CONTACT FOR QUESTIONS?
Feel free to contact the TSO Help Desk (helpdesk@cc.gatech.edu). 

From: Office of Information Technology <it@gatech.edu>
Sent: Monday, October 19, 2020 5:34 PM
To: gt-employees-oit-communications <gt-employees-oit-communications@office365.gatech.edu>
Subject: Basic Authentication Disabled for Georgia Tech Email Accounts 

Greetings Georgia Tech Faculty and Staff:

To heighten the security of Georgia Tech’s email service, the Office of Information Technology is removing basic authentication for all student, faculty, and staff email accounts.

Basic authentication allows users to log into their email accounts with only their username and password and does not require two-factor authentication. After basic authentication is disabled, all email accounts will require two-factor authentication. 

This transition will directly impact users who:

  • Have had their Georgia Tech emails set up on their phones using the phone’s default email application for more than a year (This does not apply to those who access their email via the Outlook app on their smartphones)
  • Use Outlook 2013/2010/2007 or Thunderbird to check email. 
  • Use any other IMAP email client to check email. 

Once basic authentication is disabled, you may be prompted to update your username and password. If this occurs, please remove your Georgia Tech email account from your device, re-add your account, and go through the two-factor authentication process. Your email should work appropriately after these steps are completed. 

We also recommend switching to one of the following email applications if possible, as they support modern authentication capabilities: 

  • For computers - Outlook 2016 or later for PC and Mac  
  • For phones and tablets - Outlook for iOS and Android  
  • For iPhones and iPads specifically - Mail for iOS 11.3.1 or later 

This effort will be completed in a phased approach. The timeline is available at http://b.gatech.edu/basicauthtimeline. We continue to work with unit IT professionals to schedule departmental transitions leading up to the full Nov. 10 transition date. 

The attached document provides a brief overview of the basic authentication retirement process. Additional background information and knowledge articles are available at http://b.gatech.edu/basicauth.

Sincerely,

Office of Information Technology  
Georgia Institute of Technology 
support@oit.gatech.edu  |  oit.gatech.edu  |  gatech.edu