Google 2-Step Verification is required for St. Olaf email accounts of all college faculty, staff, and students. 2-Step Verification requires users to provide their password and a code (the “second step”) when logging in. This code is most commonly delivered to your cell phone, however there are other options if you don’t have, or don’t want to use a cell phone. With 2-Step Verification enabled, even if a hacker obtains your password, they can’t get in because they don’t have access to your “second step.”
Setting up 2-step Verification
For full how-to instructions, please visit Google - Turn on 2-step verification.
Step 1: Enroll in Google 2-Step Verification
Step 2: Add Alternate Second Steps. Additional (alternate) second steps help ensure that you can always access your account. There may be times when you do not have your primary second step (most often a cell phone). In these cases, you can use an alternate second step to sign in. We recommend setting up at least two alternate second steps, including one tied to your mobile device i.e. Google Prompt, and one separate i.e. Backup Codes (just in case you lose your mobile phone).
For college Staff & Faculty, we recommend setting up:
- Google prompt (this will be your default)
- Office phone
- Cell phone
- Backup codes
Watch a short video on setting up Google 2-Step Verification:
Sign in using Google 2-Step Verification
When signing in with 2-Step Verification, enter your email address and password as usual. Google will then prompt you for 2-step verification; it will show you what method it is using to contact you.
Watch a short video on Signing in with Google 2-Step Verification:
If you don’t have your phone, but need to sign in to Google, you can choose to use an alternate second step.
Watch a short video on Using an alternate second step to sign in: