A new entry into Microsoft Roadmap (opens in new tab) has revealed that the company is working to enable direct multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests in the Outlook app for certain users.
This feature, which Microsoft calls Authenticator Lite, is designed to give business and education users access to one-time passcodes without the need for an additional password. Authenticator app .
Until now, Microsoft 365 account holders had to deal with another app, an SMS or phone calling code, or a physical key, but to streamline their approach to security, the tech giant has It seems to integrate this important cybersecurity feature into an app that many customers have already installed on their devices.
Outlook App Authenticator “Authenticator Lite (in Outlook) is a feature that enables users to complete multi-factor authentication (MFA) for their work or school accounts using the Outlook app on iOS or Android devices,” the product entry states. It is listed.
A clear focus on smartphones and tablets risks neglecting PC users. Unless you have access to the Universal Clipboard, physically entering time-sensitive codes remains a dedication to ensuring the security of your account. Use that, or a third-party authentication system already available on your computer.
It’s unclear if Microsoft has plans to roll out this feature more broadly to support more operating systems and hardware types.
For now, development continues according to the roadmap, with previews and general availability scheduled for March 2023 this month.
Microsoft already operates Authenticator apps on both mobile platforms, but the company recently made some cleanups to clean up some of the confusion left by the move to Microsoft 365 (from Office 365). increase. Its long-term intentions are unknown, but it’s reasonable to suspect that Microsoft will build authentication into existing products, removing the need for dedicated apps.
