Starting July 2023, all students will need to set up Cougar Lock.
Azusa Pacific University has announced the new safety feature Cougar Lock, which is a two-factor authentication system. All faculty and students are required to set up this new safety feature by July 1st.
This multi-factor authentication (MFA) will bolster students’ and faculty’s online privacy and security. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency states, “MFA increases security because even if one credential becomes compromised, unauthorized users will be unable to meet the second authentication requirement and will not be able to access the targeted physical space, computing device, network, or database.”
Setting up Cougar Lock is quick and only requires a computer and a smartphone.
APU’s IMT has created a detailed guide on setting up Cougar Lock. It only requires you to set it up once, and it takes about 15 minutes to activate.
Each step is easy. First, go on to https://cougarlock.apu.edu, where you will click the activate button once you have your materials together. You will then be asked to log out, where you then must login again. The next page is important, as it will not generate again. Write down or screenshot this page as it shows back-up codes in case you cannot use an authenticator app.
The next step requires downloading an authenticator app, IMT recommends Google Authenticator. Once the app is downloaded, input on Cougar Lock the authorization code given by the app. It is important not to use the codes Cougar Lock gave you. The codes provided by Cougar Lock are meant for backups in case you cannot access your smartphone.
The authenticator app will generate a new code that you must input and login again. Once you have logged in, you have set up Cougar Lock! Now when signing in on new devices, you will be asked for an authenticator code from your smartphone.
While this process may seem tedious, you only have to set it up once, and it allows for students and faculty to have more peace of mind surrounding their APU accounts.
An extra bonus to our security is the giveaway APU is hosting to students who enroll in Cougar Lock in the first few months of the year. Students who enroll in Cougar Lock will be automatically entered into a drawing to win an iPad. Four iPads will be given away in total as an incentive for enrolling in Cougar lock before the deadline.
Overall, the process is easy and allows for better safety for students and faculty online. You can contact IMT for support and more information on Cougar Lock.