Microsoft has just announced that Authenticator Lite in Outlook has been shipped to general availability. This means that users will now be able to leverage its reliability and security features across apps installed on their phones.
Per Microsoft’s findings, multifactor authentications completed via push notifications in the Microsoft Authenticator app are far less likely to be susceptible to attacks when compared to those completed via SMS codes. The company further highlighted that:
Authenticator Lite (in Outlook) expands the opportunity to convert users by bringing the enhanced security of push notifications to devices that have not yet downloaded the Microsoft Authenticator App.
With Authenticator Lite (in Outlook) in place, users will be prompted to register for multifactor authentication (MFA) in Outlook on their phones. Once you enter your password while signing into the app, you’ll have the capability to send a push notification to your phone. This option is available for both iOS and Android users.
Microsoft aims to help transition users from text message (SMS) and voice-based authentication to more sophisticated and secure authentication systems such as push notifications with this new entry. “The configuration for this feature is included with all Microsoft Authenticator feature settings in the Microsoft Entra portal and via MS Graph,” says Microsoft.
It’s worth noting that the feature is currently in the “Microsoft managed” phase till June 9 when Microsoft will enable it for everyone automatically.
In related news, Microsoft shipped the number matching feature in the Authenticator app to all users earlier this month. The feature adds an extra layer of protection for users by preventing them from making accidental approvals while simultaneously protecting them from MFA attacks.
