Microsoft’s new entry route map (opens in a new tab) It has been revealed that the company is working on enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests directly within the Outlook app for some users.
The feature, which Microsoft calls Authenticator Lite, is designed to give business and education users access to one-time passwords without additional Authenticator app.
Until now, Microsoft 365 account holders had to use separate apps, text or phone codes, or physical keys, but in an effort to simplify its approach to security, the tech giant appears to be integrating this important cybersecurity feature into its An application that many customers already have installed on their devices.
Outlook App Authenticator
“Authenticator Lite (in Outlook) is a feature that allows your users to complete multi-factor authentication (MFA) for their work or school accounts using the Outlook app on their iOS or Android devices,” reads the product entry.
An explicit focus on smartphones and tablets can overlook PC users. Unless they have access to a universal clipboard, physically entering time-sensitive codes will remain a labor of love for account security. That, or use a third-party authenticator that’s already available for your computer.
It’s unclear if Microsoft plans to roll out the feature more broadly to support more operating systems and hardware types.
Currently, it is still being developed according to the roadmap, which also states that preview and general availability are scheduled for this month – March 2023.
While Microsoft already has an Authenticator app running on both mobile platforms, the company has been doing some housekeeping lately as it cleans up some of the mess left over from the transition to Microsoft 365 (from Office 365). Its long-term intentions are unclear, but there are reasons to suspect that Microsoft may build authentication capabilities into its existing products, eliminating the need for a dedicated app.