Multifactor Authentication

Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is an added layer of security used to verify an end user's identity when they sign in to an application.

An Okta adminAn abbreviation of administrator. This is the individual(s) who have access to the Okta Administrator Dashboard. They control the provisioning and deprovisioning of end users, the assigning of apps, the resetting of passwords, and the overall end user experience. Only administrators have the Administration button on the upper right side of the My Applications page. can configure MFA at the organization level or application level. If both levels are enabled, end usersIn Okta literature, we generally refer to "end users" as the people who have their own Okta home page (My Applications), using chiclets to authenticate into all of their apps. End users do not have any administrative control. When we refer to "users" we are generally referring to the individual(s) who have administrative control. are prompted to confirm their credentials with factors both when signing in to Okta and when accessing an application.

Okta admin UI for factor type configuration and enrollment:

Factor Types

The following factors may be enabled and configured for end user enrollment and verification:

• Okta Verify	• SMS Authentication
• Voice Call Authentication	• Google Authenticator
• U2F Security Key (FIDO)	• Web Authentication (FIDO2)
• Windows Hello	• YubiKey
• Duo	• Symantec VIP
• On-Prem MFA	• Security Question
• Email Authentication

 

The following chart compares various factor types based on security, deployability, usability, phishing resistance, and real-time MITM resistance:

Factor Type	Security	Deployability	Usability	Phishing Resistance	Real-Time MITM Resistance
Passwords	Weak	Strong	Strong	Weak	Weak
Security Questions	Weak	Strong	Moderate	Weak	Weak
SMS / Voice / Email	Moderate	Strong	Strong	Moderate	Weak
Software OTP	Moderate	Strong	Moderate	Moderate	Weak
Physical OTP	Moderate	Weak	Weak	Moderate	Weak
Push Verification	Strong	Strong	Strong	Strong	Moderate
YubiKey	Strong	Strong	Strong	Moderate	Weak
U2F	Strong	Moderate	Strong	Strong	Strong
Windows Hello	Strong	Weak	Strong	Strong	Strong

 

Note about Phishing Resistance:

Push verification such as Okta Verify Push is more effective than OTP against traditional phishing. However, for stronger resistance, use FIDO-based factors such as U2F, Windows Hello, or WebAuthn.

 

Enabling Factor Types

1. Navigate to Security > Multifactor > Factor Types.
2. For each factor type, select Active or Inactive to change its status. This setting affects if the factor is enabled for end users.
3. For each factor type, configure the available options displayed based on your security requirements.

 

Factor Type Overview and Configuration

• Okta Verify

  To sign in, end-users must start the Okta Verify appAn abbreviation of application. Essentially, it is a web-based site used to perform any number of specific tasks, and requires authentication from end users by signing in. on their mobile device to generate a six-digit code they use to sign into your orgThe Okta container that represents a real-world organization.. The numbers are generated using the industry standard Time-Based One-Time Password Algorithm. For more information, including configuration and usage, see Okta Verify.

 

• SMS Authentication

  To sign in, you must enter a security token that is sent to your mobile device.

  Using SMS Authentication

  The first time users sign into their orgs after you configure this factor, they see the Extra verification is required for your account page and must perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Setup button beside Text Message Code.
  2. Enter the mobile phone number where you want your security tokens sent.
  3. Enter the security token that was sent to your phone.

  To reset and configure your settings if you lose your phone or get a new phone number, select the Account tab on your homepage and then click the Setup button in the Extra Verification section.

  If you are configuring a user who already has a mobile telephone number verified in Okta, the following message appears.

  

   

  Note about SMS Messaging

  By design, enabling SMS factor authentication requires that end users receive an SMS text message on their mobile devices. When this factor is enabled by an admin, end users will receive an SMS text message with an authentication code when they sign in to Okta, even if they have sent an SMS opt out request on their device. If SMS messaging is of concern to your users, you may enable another factor of your choice as an alternative.

 

• Voice Call Authentication

  To sign in, you must enter a security token that is generated, then sent to you via phone call from a mobile device or land line phone.

  Using Voice Call Authentication

  The first time users sign into their orgs after you configure this factor, they see the Extra verification is required for your account page and must perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Setup button beside Voice Call.

  2. Enter the number for the mobile or landline phone on which you want to receive the call. An extension number can be entered for landline business phones, as shown below.

  3. Click the Call button.
  4. The number is verified with a call and a Call is in progress... message appears. Enter the provided code into the Enter code box.
  5. Click the Verify button, then Done, if needed.

  Sign In Experience

  When signing in for an Okta session, your end user is presented with the Enter your voice call verification code page.

  

  To authenticate, end users do the following:

  Click the Call button.

  Receive the call message from their mobile device or land line phone. This voice call provides the required code.

  Enter the code into the Enter code box and click the Verify button. They are immediately authenticated into Okta.

  Resetting Voice Call

  End users can reset and configure their settings if their phone is lost or they get a new phone number by doing the following:

  1. Select Settings from the drop-down menu under your name on your Okta Home page.
  2. Click the Edit Profile button.
  3. Scroll down to the Extra Verification section.

  4. Click the Reset button beside Voice Call, as shown below.

     

  5. On the following page, add the new phone number, then click the Update button to change and reconfigure it.

 

• Google Authenticator

  To sign in, end users must start the Google Authenticator app on their mobile device to generate a six-digit code they use to sign into your org. The numbers are generated using the industry standard Time-Based One-Time Password Algorithm. The allowable clock skew is two minutes. After five unsuccessful attempts, regardless of the time between the attempts, the user account is locked and must be reset by an administrator.

  Using Google Authenticator

  The first time users sign into their orgs after you configure this factor, they see the Extra verification is required for your account page and must perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Setup button.
  2. Select your mobile device, follow the instructions to download and install Google Authenticator, and then click Next.

  Configure Google Authenticator to link it to your Okta account. You can scan a QR code or manually enter the code.

  If you scan a QR code, click Next. The pass code generator screen appears and generates pass codes to use when prompted for extra verification. You have 30 seconds to enter the pass code before it generates a new one.

  To configure an account manually, perform the following steps:

  1. On your phone, start Google Authenticator and tap the + icon.
  2. In the username field, enter your Okta username (for example, ted@mycompany.com).
  3. On your computer, click the Can’t scan link so that you can access the secret key and enter it in the Key field.
  4. Click Done.

  The pass code generator screen appears and generates pass codes to use when prompted for extra verification. You have 30 seconds to enter the pass code before it generates a new one.

  Using the Google Authenticator App

  After you install and configure Google Authenticator, click on the app and use the six-digit number to authenticate when prompted.

  Revoking or Reconfiguring the Google Authenticator App

  You can remove Google Authenticator as a factor by unchecking it in the factors list. To reconfigure it, remove it, and then add it back in.

 

• U2F Security Key (FIDO 1.0)

  End-users use a U2F compliant security key to sign into Okta. Examples of supported U2F security keys include a YubiKey or Titan Security Key.

  U2F is supported only for Chrome and Firefox browsers.

  If your policy allows for optional factors, end users can change to a different factor through the Okta Settings page, under Extra Verification.

  Note: The U2F security key is not compatible with RADIUS-enabled implementations.

  Using a U2F Security Key

  The first time users sign into their org after you configure this factor, they see the Set up multifactor authentication page and must perform the following steps:

  1. Click the Setup button.
  2. Go through the prompts to register the security key and set it up.
  3. Once completed, click the Done button.

  The next time your users sign in, they are shown a panel with instructions for signing in via their security key.

  If your policy allows for optional factors, end users can change to a different factor through the Okta Settings page, under Extra Verification.

 

• Web Authentication (FIDO2) 

  This is an Early AccessEarly Access (EA) features are opt-in features that you can try out in your org by asking Okta Support to enable them. Additionally, the Features page in the Okta Admin Console (Settings > Features) allows Super Admins to enable and disable some EA features themselves. feature. To enable it, please contact Okta Support.

  FIDO2 Web Authentication (WebAuthn) is a standard web API that is incorporated into web browsers and related web platform infrastructure. This standard provides users with new methods to securely authenticate on the web across various sites and devices using factors that are enabled and configured for WebAuthn.

  Once this factor is configured, additional verification will be required when users sign in to Okta.

  If the user selects Security key or built-in authenticator at sign in, they will be prompted to register an authenticator via Web Authentication in order to sign in to Okta successfully. Users can follow the on-screen prompts for browser or OS instructions in order to gain access. For more information about the FIDO2 WebAuthn standard, see FIDO2 Project.

   

  Web Authentication supports two methods of authentication:

  1. Security keys such as YubiKeys or Google Titan

  2. Built-in authenticators such as Windows Hello or Apple Touch ID

  

   

• Windows Hello

  Windows Hello is no longer available as an Early Access feature. It will soon be deprecated to support the new FIDO2 WebAuthn standard, which is compatible with Windows Hello authenticators.

  To learn more about factors supported by WebAuthn, please refer to Web Authentication.

 

• YubiKey

  Using their USB connector, end users press on the YubiKey hard token to emit a new, one-time password to securely log into their accounts. Security is assured, as all YubiKey validation occurs within the Okta Cloud.

  About YubiKey

  Produced by Yubico, a YubiKey is a multifactor authentication device that delivers a unique password every time it's activated by an end-user. Using their USB connector, end-users simply press on the YubiKey hard token to emit a new, one-time password (OTP) to securely log into their accounts. Security is assured, as all YubiKey validation occurs within the Okta Cloud. As such, Okta guarantees Okta-level quality of service and uptime for YubiKey authentication.

  Note: The steps in this section pertain to YubiKey in OTP mode. YubiKey also supports U2F and depending on the key series, WebAuthn.

  To specify YubiKey for authentication, the only task is to upload the YubiKey seed file, also known as the Configuration Secrets file. To create this file, follow the instructions below. Once uploaded, the screen verifies the number of successfully uploaded YubiKeys, and lists any errors that occurred in the process.

  Create a YubiKey Configuration File

  Before you can enable the YubiKey integration as a multifactor authentication option, you need to obtain and upload a Configuration Secrets file generated through the YubiKey Personalization Tool. Find details on generating this file (which might also be called a YubiKey or Okta secrets file), in the Programming YubiKeys for Okta document. The Configuration Secrets file is a .csv that allows you to provide authorized YubiKeys to your org's end users. Yubico sends the requested number of "clean" hard tokens which, once setup is complete, you can distribute to your end-users.

  Be sure to read and follow the instructions found in Programming YubiKeys for Okta document very carefully. Once completed, follow the steps under Uploading into the Okta Platform found in Using YubiKey Authentication in Okta.

  With purchase of the YubiKeys, Yubico offers an additional premium service to create a secrets file on your behalf. Contact Yubico for details on this option.

  Troubleshooting

  If you encounter problems with generating your Configuration Secrets file or in configuring your YubiKeys, verify that you've satisfied the following questions and steps below.

  Did you select Configuration Slot 1?

  Each YubiKey is configured for the YubiCloud in Configuration Slot 1 by default. If you plan to use your YubiKeys for services other than Okta, you can use Slot 2 for Okta configuration. However, if you’re experiencing errors, it’s a best practice to use Configuration Slot 1 exclusively for Okta.

  Did you click the three Generate buttons?

  When going through the steps for configuring your YubiKeys, verify that you have clicked all three of the Generate buttons.

  

  Did you check your Generated OTP?

  An important step in checking your work is noting that the Public Identity value exists in your generated OTP. If it is not present, your YubiKey is not correctly configured.

  To check the file, do the following:

  1. Open the .csv file generated by the YubiKey Personalization Tool.
  2. Note the Public Identity value, listed as the second value item in the file.
  3. Open a text editor, then tap on the YubiKey that was configured for use with Okta. Allow YubiKey to generate the OTP within the text editor.
  4. Search for the aforementioned Public Identity value in the generated OTP. If it is not present in the line of text, the YubiKey has not been successfully configured.

  Using a YubiKey

  Managing Tokens

  Now, with a successfully uploaded Configuration Secrets file, you can view all the unassigned YubiKeys available within your org. Your end-users should begin to enroll their individual tokens on their devices, and the assigned tokens should begin to appear in your reports.

  Viewing Your YubiKeys

  Click the View Report button to view a list containing the serial values of all your assigned and unassigned YubiKeys. Alternatively, you can find the same information from the Reports page, under the MFA Usage link.

  A report can be run at any time to view:

  • Active tokens (YubiKeys which are associated with users.)
  • Blocked tokens (YubiKeys which were once active, but are now either reset by the end user or the Okta admin.)
  • Unassigned tokens (An unassigned YubiKey has secret values uploaded and is ready to be self enrolled by an end-user.)
  • Names of assigned end-users

  Removing Lost, Stolen, or Invalid YubiKeys

  Another benefit of the YubiKey hard token is the ability to easily unauthorize users if it is ever lost or stolen—it is non-transferable and easily replaced. If an end-user reports their YubiKey as lost or stolen, you can remove these individual tokens using its unique serial number. This method is also the way to remove unassigned YubiKeys. Ensure the YubiKey has already been reset by following the Resetting MFA instructions. A YubiKey serial can not be removed if it is currently active for a user.

  From the YubiKey tab,

  1. Enter the serial number into the Revoke YubiKey Seed field.
  2. Click the Find YubiKey button.
  3. A Delete YubiKey modal appears to verify that you wish to permanently delete the YubiKey.
  4. A confirmation page appears. Click the Done button.

  Best Practice: If a lost YubiKey is found, it's a best practice to simply discard the old token. An admin can also reprogram the YubiKey by following the steps within the Programming YubiKeys for Okta file, which can be found in Configuring YubiKey Tokens. This generates a new Configuration Secrets file for upload, and allows the token to be re-enrolled by any end user within the Okta framework.

  The End-User Experience

  What happens for your end user? Enrollment is simple. When a user signs into Okta for the first time or after a reset, they will be prompted to choose an MFA option for their account. At this point, they can choose the YubiKey option.

  Once they click the Setup button, step-by-step instructions follow for successful registration.

  

  Enrollment Failure

  If an end user is unable to enroll their YubiKey successfully, ensure that the token was successfully uploaded into the Okta platform. Navigate to the YubiKey Report found on the Reports page. Search (by serial number) for the end user who is attempting to enroll.

  • If the YubiKey is present in the YubiKey report, and the status is unassigned, the end user has potentially reprogrammed their YubiKey and overwritten the secrets associated with the YubiKey. This requires the admin to follow the instructions found in the Programming YubiKeys for Okta file, which can be found in Configuring YubiKey Tokens, and upload again into the Okta platform.
  • If the YubiKey is not present in YubiKey report, then the YubiKey secrets value has not been properly uploaded and must be uploaded again into the Okta platform.

   

  Best Practice: If a YubiKey is decoupled from its user, consider revoking the token from your system and reissuing the end user another unassigned YubiKey for enrollment.

  Supported Protocols and Communication Channels

  For successful YubiKey authentication, the following token modes are supported:

  • TOTP
  • U2F (Requires Chrome or Firefox web browsers)

  Some YubiKey models may support protocols such as NFC or Bluetooth. Refer to the YubiKey device specifications to confirm support.

 

• Duo Security

  When signing in, end-users are prompted for additional verification. End users can then select the authentication type that is supported by their device to verify their identity. For details about this option, see Configuring Duo Security.

 

• Symantec VIP

  Available for free in the United States and Canada in both enterprise and SSOAn acronym for single sign-on. In a SSO system, a user logs in once to the system and can access multiple systems without being prompted to sign in for each one. Okta is a cloud-based SSO platform that allows users to enter one name and password to access multiple applications. Users can access all of their web applications, both behind the firewall and in the cloud, with a single sign in. Okta provides a seamless experience across PCs, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. editions, this factor enables you to use the VIP Manager tool to obtain a certificate that you use to sign in.

  Enabling Symantec VIP

  Symantec Validation and ID Protection Service (VIP) is a cloud-based authentication service that enables secure access to networks and applications. To enable Symantec VIP for multifactor authentication, you must upload a certificate. You should obtain your certificate from the Symantec VIP Manager before you can configure this option.

  On the Symantec VIP tab, use Browse to upload your VIP certificate. It must be in .p12 (PKCS#12) file format, and enter the VIP Manager password.

  Using Symantic VIP

  Certificate

  1. Go to Symantec VIP Manager to obtain a certificate. Your certificate must be in .p12(PKCS#12) file format.
  2. Upload your Symantec VIP certificate and enter your VIP Manager password.

  Using the VIP Access App

  Your users must install the VIP access app on their mobile phones (currently VIP Access is available for all iPhone models and for most Android, Windows, and BlackBerry phones). The first time users sign into their org after you configure this factor, they see the Extra verification is required for your account page and must perform the following steps:

  1. When you sign into Okta, you are prompted to set up VIP. Click Setup.
  2. Enter your credential ID and security codes, and then click Register.

  After the initial setup, your users must enter the security code generated by the VIP access app (based on the frequency you set for Ask for additional factor.

 

• On-Prem MFA

  To sign in, end-users must use an RSA hardware dongle device or soft token to generate an authentication code to sign into your org. The numbers are generated using a built-in clock and the card's factory-encoded random key. The Okta On-Prem MFA agentA software agent is a lightweight program that runs as a service outside of Okta. It is typically installed behind a firewall and allows Okta to tunnel communication between an on-premises service and Okta's cloud service. Okta employs several agent types: Active Directory, LDAP, RADIUS, RSA, Active Directory Password Sync, and IWA. For example, users can install multiple Active Directory agents to ensure that the integration is robust and highly available across geographic locations. (formerly named the RSA SecurID agent) acts as a RADIUS clientEssentially, a client is anything that talks to the Okta service. Within the traditional client-server model, Okta is the server. The client might be an agent, an Okta mobile app, or a browser plugin. and will communicate with your RADIUS enabled on-prem MFA server, including RSA Authentication manager for RSA SecurIDs. For details about this option, see Configuring the On-Prem MFA Agent (including RSA SecurID).

 

• Security Question

  To sign in, users must enter the correct response to a security question that they select from a list of possible questions.

  Using a Security Question

  The first time users sign into their orgs after you configure this factor, they see the Extra verification is required for your account page and must perform the following steps:

  1. Select Setup.
  2. Choose a security question, enter an answer, and then click Save.

  The next time your users sign in, they are prompted to answer their security question.

  Security Questions Guidelines

  All the following guidelines are required for security questions:

  • The answer to a security question must be at least four characters long; however, a longer length can be specified for recovery flows in a Group Password Policy.
  • The answer to a security question cannot be the user's password or user name.
  • The answer to the security question cannot be included in the question.

   

• Email

  End-users receive a code in an email message to enter during Okta sign in.

  Using Email

  This is an Early Access feature. To enable it, please contact Okta Support.

  To select email as a factor, click the checkbox.

  Important notes:

  • Okta Mobile Android currently does not support email as an MFA factor.
  • Using email as a factor is not a best practice. When you add it as a factor, you must accept the risk of using it. The following message appears:

    We do not recommend that you use email as a second factor experience for Okta. This experience is a very insecure method of additional verification as:

    • Email can be compromised by third parties
    • Email is not always transmitted over secure protocols
    • Email can also be used, depending on the recovery flow, for primary credential recovery

    Although we do offer email as a factor experience for convenience and to help our customers migrate off of legacy identity platforms, we do not consider it to be a secure, modern method for secondary authentication. To continue enabling this feature, please click "I accept the risk" below.”

  After enabling email as a factor here, you must set the usage details and restrictions in a policy. Policies are described in the section below.

  Specifications available in policies for email factors

  If you have authorized email as an authentication factor, it appears in the factor list for a policy. By default it is disabled. There are two options for the email factor, as follows:

  • Disabled – End users specified in this rule cannot use email for multifactor authentication.
  • Auto Enroll – End users specified by this rule are automatically enrolled in email factors based on their primary email addresses in their user profiles.

  Note: You can limit the use of email as a factor during password recovery.

  You can specify whether to allow email as an authentication factor in account recovery. Additionally, you can specify how long the code sent in an email is valid.

Enabling and resetting MFA

Additional MFA resources

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