Authentication: Tips for Personal Device Users

To protect your Villanova Account, Technology Services enables settings that define how long you can stay logged into an application or system via a browser without having to re-authenticate your identity. These settings are based on a variety of factors, one of which being if you are using a personal device with no Villanova IT controls.

We recognize that there may be situations in which having to re-authenticate would be a disruption, like in the middle of teaching or giving a presentation, or when having your smartphone out is not allowed, such as during a class or while taking a test. For an uninterrupted experience, we recommend taking the following steps before you begin that activity on a personal device.

1. Sign out of your Villanova Account in the browser
2. Close the entire browser (not just the window)
3. Re-open the browser and navigate to MyNova
4. Sign in to your Villanova Account (including MFA)
5. Open the resource you need (e.g., Brightspace) to ensure you’re logged in
6. Continue your activity on the device

FAQs

What factors impact my sign-in frequency?
There are currently four key factors that determine how often you need to re-authenticate your account and whether your sessions hold over on the browser after you’ve closed the window.

• Risk Level (e.g., Low, Medium, High)
• Device type (e.g., Personal device with no IT controls vs. University-managed)
• Network type (e.g., Trusted VUMobile Network vs. non-trusted network)
• User type (e.g., Employee vs. Non-Employee)

If I'm using a personal device, how long will I stay signed in before I have to re-authenticate?
Your sign-in duration depends on your sign-in risk level, whether you are connected to a trusted network such as VUMobile, and whether you are an employee or non-employee.