Enabling and Disabling Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for Each Client or Application

Introduction:

Today, with the increasing security threats in information technology, the use of more advanced methods for user authentication is essential. SSO Plus, as a centralized and integrated authentication software, provides capabilities such as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) to enhance security. However, one important question is whether it is possible to enable or disable this feature separately for each application. This article examines this issue from three different perspectives.

Perspective 1: Technical Aspects and SSO Standards

From a technical point of view, diversity in the authentication process means that the user must specify their final destination or client before logging in. This is possible if the authentication process is initiated from the client-side. In such a scenario:

• After Initial Authentication: After one-time authentication on the IDP (Identity Provider) server, the user is considered an authenticated identity. Therefore, in subsequent login attempts, even to clients that require two-factor authentication with another factor, there is no need to repeat the authentication process.
• The Problem Created: In this case, if the user initially logs in through a client with single-factor authentication, they can then access clients that require two-factor authentication without needing to re-authenticate. This situation may not be desirable from a security standpoint.

For example, the first client is configured to log in using a username and password. After user authentication by SSO or IDP, the user is considered authenticated and can access other clients. Thus, when they want to access a client that requires a second factor for authentication, such as OTP, the system no longer requests OTP from the user, and the user can access that client.

• Proposed Solution: Given SSO Plus's approach to providing a unified authentication process, emphasizing centralized and standard authentication is essential. This helps prevent unauthorized access to sensitive clients.

Perspective 2: Additional Security Layer in SSO Plus

Unlike many similar solutions, SSO Plus provides an additional security layer after the initial user login:

• Post-Login Security Checks: This security layer allows for additional controls based on parameters such as role, group, user, or the active/inactive status of clients.
• Secondary Enforcement Option: The initial login process can be designed to be simpler, and stricter controls can be applied for access to specific clients. These controls can include factors such as security codes, user IP, login time, and other security criteria.

Perspective 3: Requirements and Customization

One of the main goals of SSO Plus is to provide flexibility and respond to the specific needs of organizations. From this perspective:

• Defining Specific Security Policies for Each Application: Authentication policies can be defined separately for each application. These policies can include enabling or disabling two-factor authentication.
• Implementing Combined Solutions: If some applications require a higher level of security, a combination of primary and secondary authentication methods (first-level authorization) can be used for access.
• Improving User Experience: By providing simple and integrated solutions, users can access various applications without feeling complexity in the authentication process.

Conclusion:

Enabling or disabling two-factor authentication for each application in SSO Plus is not only possible but can also be customized based on the organization's needs and the sensitivity level of the applications. Using additional security layers and a unified approach, SSO Plus offers capabilities for managing security at various levels, which ensures both security and an optimized user experience.