Reminder: NHSmail set to make multi-factor authentication mandatory
The NHSmail team previously announced that multi-factor authentication (MFA) is set to become mandatory across the platform for all NHSmail users from later within 2024.
What is MFA?
Normally you use your email address and password to log into your NHSmail account. MFA is an additional way of checking that it is really you when you log in to your account and this will eventually be the default for all NHSmail user accounts.
MFA has been around for some time on the platform, and you may already be using it in NHSmail (or in your personal life such as for online banking). It is currently an optional feature, but there are many benefits to it. The NHSmail team have said that:
- More than 99.9% of accounts compromised by cyber attacks can be blocked by using MFA (Source: Microsoft, 2022)
- MFA can prevent disruption to patient care, referrals and appointments
- MFA helps keep any patient data in a more protected environment
As online working becomes the norm, so does the need to keep yourself and the data you work with safe.
NHSmail is a secure communication platform and MFA is intended to help keep it that way. It is being introduced across all NHSmail user accounts.
What does this mean for pharmacy NHSmail users?
Pharmacy NHSmail users are encoruaged to enrol for MFA, prior to it becoming mandatory, using one of the three methods. We would recommend using the Authenticator App as it is the strongest form of security, and many users find this method the easiest.
Usability and how to try MFA
Read more within this step-by-step guide for trying pharmacy NHSmail MFA.
Let us know how you get on, by sharing your feedback via cpe.org.uk/itfeedback
