Duo - Traveling and Planning Ahead with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Purpose

This article outlines important steps and recommendations to consider before traveling to ensure you can continue to authenticate with Duo Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), especially when network or cell service may be unreliable. Before continue, you may want to read and review our Duo - General Recommendations and Authentication Methods (link) article.

Plan Ahead

There are many options to authenticate with Duo MFA, and several will still function even if you find yourself without cell service or a stable network connection. Planning ahead and understanding the conditions you might encounter will help ensure you are prepared and able to log in. Try to answer these key questions before traveling:

  • Which second factor devices will you have access to during your travels?
    • Will you have access to a smartphone or tablet?
    • Will you have access to a (non-smart) cellphone?
    • Will you have access to a landline?
    • Do you have a hard token?
  • Will you have access to cellular service, mobile data, or WiFi?
  • Are you traveling to a country subject to export controls?

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Traveling to Export Controlled Countries?

The following countries and regions are under sanctions by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (O.F.A.C.) (link). All Duo authentication methods (Duo Mobile, Duo passcodes and SMS passcodes, phone calls, and hard tokens) will not function as they are blocked (link) within their borders:

  • Cuba (CU)
  • North Korea - Democratic People's Republic of Korea (KP)
  • Iran (IR)
  • Sudan (SD)
  • Syria (SY)
  • Crimea region (43)
  • Donetsk region (14)
  • Luhansk region (09)
  • Sevastopol region (40)

Please contact the ITS Help Desk (link) if you are planning to travel to any these countries or regions.

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