International Travel Technology Use

Upcoming change to online resource access when outside of the US

Currently, students and staff can access Lake Washington School District online resources when outside of the United States. Starting on December 15, 2025, students will have to complete Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) as outlined below to access these resources when traveling internationally. Staff are already registered for MFA.

Going on a trip abroad? When leaving the U.S., you may be subject to more security measures, since our systems may interpret international travel as suspicious.

Everyone, staff and students alike, should know the following:

Most online resources, such as email, Teams, and ClassLink, are expected to work. Please let us know if you experience issues.
These resources may be unavailable when outside the U.S.:
- Access to file shares
- Access to printers
- Software installations through Software Center
- First-time Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) registration (register before you go!)
Access to online resources is currently restricted from several specific countries due to elevated cybersecurity threat. Currently, these countries are:
- Nigeria
- Russia
Some internet service providers have been marked by Microsoft as “risky.” If you have trouble while you’re traveling, consider trying another Wi-Fi network.

Students
Staff

Students

In normal conditions, students do not have to complete Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). However, sign-ins from international locations aren’t typical, and these attempts represent a way that hackers could gain access to sensitive data.

If you are want to use your LWSD account while travelling internationally, you must register the student account for MFA to access district resources – see below. Note that district-provided laptops are intended for domestic use only and are not recommended for international use or travel.

You must register for MFA. The instructions on the Password Registration and Recovery page also work for MFA, and the “Password Recovery Methods” table at the bottom tells you which methods work for MFA. Register using your district laptop before leaving the U.S.
It is recommended to double-check your Self-Service Password Reset setup. You should register for MFA at the same time if you haven’t already. Follow the instructions on the Password Registration and Recovery page, and the “Password Recovery Methods” table at the bottom tells you which methods work for MFA and Password Reset.

This table summarizes MFA requirements for students:

User and device	In US	Outside of US
Student on LWSD device	No MFA	No MFA
Student on another device	No MFA	Yes MFA

Have questions? Family Technology Access (ftaccess@lwsd.org or 425-936-1322) can help. Our ability to assist while you are travelling may be limited, so we strongly encourage you to review the items above in advance of your trip.

Staff

Staff (including contractors and vendors) don’t have to do a lot to prepare for international travel. You’re already registered for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which is the primary requirement. However, we do recommend double-checking if you’re ready.

You should make sure your MFA methods and Self-Service Password Reset methods are up to date – and ideally that you have an extra method configured in case something goes wrong while you’re away. The instructions on the Password Registration and Recovery page also work for MFA, and the “Password Recovery Methods” table at the bottom tell you which methods work for MFA.
Review your travel plans – if you use your cell phone for MFA, do you have a way to use it while you’re abroad? If you won’t have cell service, set up an MFA method other than SMS.

Have questions? Helpdesk (helpdesk@lwsd.org or 425-936-1366) is here to assist! Our ability to assist while you are travelling may be limited, so we strongly encourage you to review the items above in advance of your trip.