UserLock Documentation
UserLock Documentation
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Multi-factor authentication

This restriction requires a user to authenticate with an additional (second) factor. UserLock supports MFA through authenticator applications using time-based-one-time-passwords (TOTP). Examples include Google Authenticator and LastPass Authenticator. TOTP are widely accepted and are more secure than other options such as SMS text based authentication.

UserLock MFA can be enabled for any user, group or OU in your Domain. Choose granular settings to define your MFA policy by the type of operating system (Workstation or Server), the connection type (Local or Remote), and the frequency with which MFA is asked (at every connection, every N days.) There is also an option to help with the onboarding process to allow users to skip the MFA configuration for a defined number of days.

MFA messages displayed to the end user are customizable and you can enable an "Ask for help" button on the displayed dialogs to allow the end user to send e-mail (and consequently, applications compatible with e-mail such as Slack) and / or popup help requests to UserLock administrators responsible for implementing MFA.

In case an end user can’t log on, one-click admin actions are available in the UserLock console to temporarily disable MFA or to reset MFA key for a specific user.

In addition, ad-hoc reports allow you to see the evolution over time of the use of MFA in your environment: logon for which MFA was used, suspicious logons for which MFA has been canceled, skip reasons…

An MFA dashboard has been added in the UserLock Console to as a central place for all of these new features.

A use case page about UserLock MFA is available here.

How MFA works

When the user registers a TOTP-supporting device, a unique shared key is created. Both the device and the server can generate a time-based one-time password by processing that key along with the current time. By convention, each TOTP is good for 30 seconds. A user will log in using their regular password, then enter the current one-time password from their device.

Prerequisites

  • UserLock service version 10.0 and higher
  • Windows Vista and higher or Windows Server 2008 and higher
  • Only compatible with Desktop agents version 10.0 and higher
  • Available for Interactive sessions only
  • An authentication application must be installed on the end user smartphone
  • Automatic time settings on the UserLock server and end-user smartphones. If the time is set manually, passcodes generated by the UserLock server and end-user smartphones can be out of sync and result in login errors.

Onboarding for end users – with an Authenticator Application

UserLock has built in functionalities to help ease the onboarding and education process for users to set up MFA on their smartphones.

We recommend that you create a user-oriented document that you will send to all users affected by MFA. You will find a sample document of this type here.

To help your organization or users choose an application, here are the most widely used:

  • Google Authenticator
  • Microsoft Authenticator
  • LastPass Authenticator
    • This is the most secure, because even if the phone is not locked, the app will automatically lock and you must provide credentials to unlock it to get the MFA code.
  • 2FA Authenticator
  • Duo
  • Authy

Regardless of the application you choose, make sure that the date and time of the end users' smartphones are correct (it is recommended to set the date and time automatically), otherwise the codes generated by the application cannot be validated.

For a user's first MFA connection, this user may require assistance with the configuration.

  1. Once MFA is enabled for a user account, at their next connection, a dialog box with a QR code will be displayed:

    A dialog box with a QR code will be displayed
    • Notes:
      • The text just under “Multi-Factor Authentication” is customizable in the Settings tab.
      • Other texts will be displayed according to the language of the OS of the computer currently logged on (English which is the default language, French or Spanish).
      • The "Skip (N days left)" button is optional. It is disabled by default. You can enable it in the configuration of the protected accounts related to this user.
      • The "Ask for help" button is optional. It is disabled by default. You can enable it in the MFA dashboard, “Settings” tab.

  2. When this dialog box appears, the user will need to open the Authenticator application on their smartphone, then scan the barcode. For example with Google Authenticator:

    Google Authenticator

  3. Click “Begin”

  4. In the « Add an account » step, choose « Scan a bar code » (or « Enter a provided key” if you prefer):

    Add an account

  5. The MFA code is now displayed:

    The MFA code is now displayed

  6. Fill the MFA code in the field in the dialog box, then click “Verify and Continue”.

    It is recommended to inform users of the circumstances for when MFA will be asked for. (For example at every logon, at the first logon of the day, etc…)
    Once correctly configured, the user will be prompted with the following dialog box for all connections that require MFA.

    Fill the MFA code in the field in the dialog box

  7. The user will be able to retrieve the code from the Authenticator application.

    Fill the MFA code in the field in the dialog box

Onboarding for End Users – with a Token2 programmable token

Requirements:

Users will need a Token2 programmable token (non-branded version or branded version). To enroll in MFA (subsequent logins will only require the hardware token), you will need an Android device with NFC* and the TOKEN2 NFC Burner app* (make sure you have the latest version, at least 2.1). This can be the same device for several users (the smartphone of a UserLock administrator for example).
[* Windows version is also available, but this guide will use Android as an example.]

To enable two-factor authentication:

  1. Have your Android device with NFC and TOKEN2 NFC Burner 2 app installed and your hardware token ready.

  2. Once MFA is enabled for a use account, at their next connection, a dialog box with a QR code will be displayed. Rather than downloading an authenticator application, the user must do the following.

    Multi-factor authentication

  3. Launch the NFC burner app on your Android device and hit the "QR" button.

    Launch the NFC burner app

  4. Point the camera to the QR code shown on the DIALOG box. Upon a successful QR scan, the camera window should disappear.

    Alternatively, you can manually enter the code shown on the same page ("Manual Entry Key:") but hitting the "Base32" button on the app under the QR button.

  5. Turn on the TOKEN2 token and touch it with your phone (make sure it is overlapped by the NFC antenna) and click "Connect" on the app.

    If the phone's NFC antenna does not correctly cover the token, the connection will fail. Try moving the phone or token until you successfully connect the devices. Also make sure the NFC is enabled on the phone, and that the token is turned on. Click here for more information on the NFC link stability issues with Token 2 programmable tokens.

  6. Upon successful connection, click the "Burn seed" button. If NFC link is established and the code is correctly scanned, you should see a status window showing "Burning..." and eventually (in a second or two), "burn seed successful.." message in the log window.

    Burn seed successful

  7. After completing the burning process, turn the token display off and turn it on again.

  8. Enter the 6 digits code displayed by the token in the field in the dialog box, then click “Verify and continue“.

    Enter the 6 digits code displayed by the token

  9. Thereafter, the user will be able to retrieve the code requested, from the Token2 programmable token itself.

    Token2Multi-factor authentication

Enable MFA gradually for users, groups or OU’s:

You can select users, groups, or organizational units for which you want to enable MFA. We recommend that you choose inan implementation plan that allows for gradual user onboarding.

For example, enable MFA for an Active Directory group “HR”:

Fill the MFA code in the field in the dialog box

When enabling MFA for new users, consider informing them about how they will be impacted. (see the Onboarding for end users specific section).

Advanced

Why are there no Multi-Factor Authentication recovery codes?

Generally, Multi-Factor Authentication recovery codes are used on SaaS applications, administered by web services, and for which an end user cannot contact an administrator on premise.

In UserLock MFA, authentication is monitored by on premise administrators who can be present to answer to help desk calls about authentication.

Limitations

MFA successful feature

If the MFA code is correctly entered but another UserLock restriction refuses a connection, we cannot see the event that an MFA code has been correctly entered in the UserLock MFA reports (we can only see this only in the logs of the UserLock service).

MFA feature on Backup UserLock server

There is no MFA dashboard on Backup UserLock servers.

MFA on the web UserLock console

It is not possible to administer UserLock MFA via the UserLock web console.

MFA feature for unlocking events

It is not possible to authenticate users with UserLock MFA for unlocking events.