ECPHD Help Desk

>This article covers how to access your Georgia Department of Public Health email account. 

>There are two main ways to access your email.

   - Outlook Web Access (connect.gets.ga.gov)

   - Outlook Program 

>Outlook Web Access

>Start by opening an internet browser (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox) 

>Find the URL search bar in the top portion of the browser.

>Type "connect.gets.ga.gov" into the URL search bar. 

>Hit the "enter" key on your keyboard.

>The page you land on should look something like this:

>Enter your DPH email address in the "Username" field.

   -example: joe.smith@dph.ga.gov

>Enter your temporary password into the "Password" field. 

   -If you are having trouble logging in, submit a help desk ticket at https://ecphd.freshdesk.com/support/home

>Once you enter your username & temporary password, it should prompt you to set a new password.

>Please abide by the following requirements:

   -Must contain one or more uppercase characters

   -Must contain one or more lowercase characters

   -Must contain one or more numbers

   -Must contain one or more special symbols

   -Must not be any of your last 8 passwords 

>Once you've set a new password, the next menu should prompt you to set up a multi-factor authentication method. Ensuring that every DPH account has an MFA method enabled helps to strengthen our organizations security.  Scroll down to the section labeled "Multi Factor Authentication". This can be found directly after the section about the Outlook program version. Please now scroll down to the "Multi Factor Authentication" section of this article.

>Outlook Program

>This is the software version of Outlook that should be installed on your computer.

>Here are a couple of ways to find and open the program:

>Finding the Desktop shortcut, here's what it looks like:

>Alternatively, click on the "Windows" icon in the bottom left corn of the screen, you will see a list appear. Scroll down to the letter "O".

>Take note, installed office apps appear to the right-hand side of the alphabetical list without even searching for them. You should see results similar to this pictured below. 

>Another way of searching for Outlook is by clicking on the "Search" icon that looks like a magnifying glass. 

>Type "Outlook" into the search bar and it should populate these results found below:

>Once the program is running for the first time, a new window will appear that is prompting you to sign in. This is where you will populate your DPH email address. Example: john.smith@dph.ga.gov 

>If MFA is required at this time, scroll down to the "Multi Factor Authentication" section of this article. 

>Follow along with the "Outlook Web Access" & "Multi Factor Authentication" portion of this document to sign in fully. Once signed in the program looks like this:

>Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

>Every user SHOULD be prompted to set up some form of MFA when logging it. If you are not prompted to set up an MFA method, please call the help desk. You can find the three types of MFA we use listed here below:

>There are three main methods of authentication:

   -Okta Verify (For users with a work issued cell phone, not for placement on personal devices)

   -Yubikeys (For users without a work issued cell phone)

   -Security Questions (For use when Yubikeys aren't readily available)

>For users with Okta Verify

>Okta Verify is a cloud-based authentication & identity solution that we use here at ECHD. This is an app on your smartphone that you connect to your email account. 

>Here is what the icon for the app looks like:

>When opening the app, it will prompt you with these options:

>You should've already logged in to your account at this point at connect.gets.ga.gov

>After creating your own password, you should be prompted with the option found below:

>Click on "Set up"

>On your phone's app, click the "Yes, Ready to Scan" button, place the camera over the QR code. Your phone will notify you when the QR code is captured.

>Something like this window will follow: 

>Skip this and choose "Set up later" if you've just set up Okta Verify. 

>You have now set up "Okta Verify" successfully. 

>For users with Yubikeys

>If you are setting up your MFA authentication as a Yubikey, you will be prompted with the following option. Know that you will need a Yubikey prior to completing the authentication set up. 

>Once you click on "Set up" you will be prompted with this screen:

>Plug your YubiKey into an open USB port on your computer. Once plugged in, press on the gold button on the center of the YubiKey. This should populate a code in the text field and proceed to the next field for you. If set up was successful, you will be logged in to your email account at this point.

>Security Questions

>If OKTA & YubiKey MFA is just not available at the time, we can temporarily set a user up on security questions as an MFA method. This involves choosing a premade question or writing your own. Once you have selected your question you will be prompted to create an answer to that question. 

>You will be prompted to click on "Set up"

>Select (or make) one of the following questions that are being displayed on screen. 

>Create an answer to this question that is not easily guessable. Be sure this word does not match your password. Refrain from writing down any account information, including security question answers. All of this information should be stored in your head.