To retirees from UC Berkeley with continued bMail service,
This year we have been rolling out a new security feature to campus faculty, staff, and students called CalNet 2-Step verification. Now it is your turn to take advantage of this important security feature.
Enroll in CalNet 2-Step Now
Visit the CalNet 2-Step website for information and instructions on how to enroll. Call (510) 664-9000 or email calnet2-stephelp@berkeley.edu if you have any questions or need help enrolling.
What is two-step verification?
Two-step verification is a requirement to provide additional assurance that you are who you say you are when you use your CalNet ID to access University systems. This process typically utilizes a cell phone, but there are other options available. This new verification option ensures that you are the only person who can access your CalNet account, even if your passphrase is stolen. We are calling the Berkeley implementation the CalNet 2-Step. This approach is widely used, so you may be already using it with other online applications or to access your bank account.
Why am I required to do this?
Because you use your CalNet account to log into campus services like bConnected, two-step verification not only protects institutional data but your personal information as well.
UC Berkeley’s research, intellectual property, institutional and personal data are extremely valuable and attractive to cyber criminals. The use of stolen CalNet account usernames and passphrases is a serious, ongoing threat to the security of campus systems and data and is the most frequent way campus systems are compromised. In response to this threat, we have joined many of our peer institutions in providing two-step verification technology to protect all CalNet accounts. All faculty, staff and students have already signed up for and are currently protected by 2-Step verification.
While the deadline for you to sign-up for the CalNet 2-Step is Dec. 10, 2018, we encourage you to sign-up as soon as possible to avoid a last minute crunch.
Thank you for helping UC Berkeley maintain its prestige and security. In doing so, you are protecting yourself as well as the University.
Sincerely,
Larry Conrad, Associate Vice Chancellor for IT and Chief Information Officer
Jeremy Rosenberg, Chief Information Security Officer