A brand new entry into Microsoft’s roadmap (opens in new tab) has revealed that the corporate is engaged on enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) requests instantly within the Outlook app for sure customers.

The characteristic, which Microsoft is looking Authenticator Lite, is designed to permit enterprise and training customers to entry one-time passcodes with out the necessity for a further authenticator app.

Up till now, Microsoft 365 account holders have needed to make do with a separate app, SMS or cellphone name codes, or a bodily key, however in an effort to streamline its method to safety the tech big appears to be like to be integrating this essential cybersecurity characteristic into an app that lots of its prospects will have already got put in on their gadgets.

Outlook app authenticator

“Authenticator Lite (in Outlook) is a characteristic that enables your customers to finish multi-factor authentication (MFA) for his or her work or college account utilizing the Outlook app on their iOS or Android machine,” the product entry reads.

The clear concentrate on smartphones and tablets dangers neglecting PC customers. Until they’ve entry to a common clipboard, bodily typing out the time-sensitive code will stay a labor of dedication to at least one’s account safety. That, or utilizing a third-party authenticator already obtainable for computer systems.

It’s unclear whether or not Microsoft has plans to roll out the characteristic extra extensively to assist extra working programs and {hardware} sorts.

For now, it stays in improvement in keeping with the roadmap, which additionally says that the preview and common availability are set for this month – March 2023.

Whereas Microsoft already operates an Authenticator app on each cellular platforms, the corporate has been doing a little tidying up just lately because it sweeps up among the mess left behind from the transition to Microsoft 365 (from Workplace 365). Its long-term intentions are unclear, nevertheless it’s affordable to suspect that Microsoft might construct authentication into its current merchandise, eliminating the necessity for a devoted app.

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