Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

ADSelfService Plus MFA augments the traditional username and password-based authentication with an additional layer of authentication (e.g. biometrics, TOTP codes, or FIDO passkeys) to verify a user's identity. MFA provides a high level of identity assurance for access requests.

You can enable MFA in ADSelfService Plus for the following events:

• Self-service password reset and account unlock
• Endpoint logins such as machines (Windows, macOS, Linux), VPN, and OWA logins
• Self-service portal login
• Single sign-on in to cloud applications.

To enable MFA for these events:

• First you need to configure the authentication methods.
• Then, go to the MFA for Reset/Unlock or MFA for Endpoints tab, and enable MFA for the required events.

Refer to the Authenticators page for the list of supported authentication methods, and how to configure them.

Combined with Conditional Access, MFA for Endpoints can be enabled only for high-risk users, thus ensuring security without affecting user experience. Click here to learn more about Conditional Access.

Note: Conditional Access can be enabled only for MFA during Windows, macOS, and Linux logons. It will not take effect for VPN MFA.

How to enable the required authentication methods for a specific set of users

1. Go to the Configuration > Self-Service > Policy Configuration, choose a policy of your choice, and click the Edit icon. You can also create a new policy by clicking the Add New Policy button.





2. Click Select OUs/Groups at the bottom right of the webpage, and select the specific set of users to whom you wish to enable multi-factor authentication. Click OK.
Tip: Select the Don't inherit child OU(s) option to only select the parent OUs.





3. Select the password self-service features (Reset Password, Unlock Account, Self Update, or Change Password) that you wish to enable for the selected users. Click Save Policy.





4. Go to the Configuration → Self-Service → Multi-Factor Authentication → Authenticator Setup and select a policy from the Choose the Policy drop-down.
5. Configure the authentication methods that you want to enable for the selected policy.





6. Click Save.
Tip: You can choose to configure different authentication methods for different sets of policies. For instance, if Policy 1 enforces YubiKey, Policy 2 can enforce one-time passcodes, and so on.

How to force users to enroll for specific authentication methods

Users must enroll themselves by providing the necessary information, as per the enabled authentication methods, to be able to prove their identity. For example, if you have enabled Fingerprint Authentication, users must scan their fingerprint using the ADSelfService Plus mobile app, only after which, they will be able to use that method during password reset or endpoint logins.

To force users to enroll for specific authentication methods:

1. Go to Configuration → Self-Service → Multi-factor Authentication → MFA Enrollment.
2. Select Force users to enroll when they log in to the end-user portal option. This will prevent users from accessing other features in the self-service portal before entering their enrollment information.
3. Select Enforce these authenticators during enrollment and choose the authenticators to be set as mandatory.





4. You can also choose to hide the Enrollment tab in the end-user portal for enrolled users
5. Click Save Settings.

What are the authenticators and functions supported by the various MFA types

This table provides detailed information on each MFA type, including the supported authenticators and the settings and options available to improve the functionality and security of the authentication process.

MFA type	Authentication methods supported	Passwordless login	Backup recovery codes	CAPTCHA
MFA for self-service actions	All the authenticators supported by ADSelfService Plus except for smart card authentication	Not applicable	Supported	Supported
MFA for Windows, macOS, and Linux logins	All the authenticators supported by ADSelfService Plus except for smart card authentication and FIDO Passkeys	Not applicable	Supported	Supported
Offline MFA for Windows and macOS logins.	Google Authenticator Microsoft Authenticator Custom TOTP Authenticator Zoho OneAuth TOTP Authenticator	Not applicable	Not supported	Not supported
MFA for OWA and Exchange admin center	All the authenticators supported by ADSelfService Plus except for smart card authentication	Not applicable	Supported	Supported
MFA for RADIUS-based VPNs, RDP, and other endpoints	One-way authenticators Push notification Fingerprint/Face ID Challenge-based authenticators ADSelfService Plus time-based one-time password (TOTP) Authentication Google Authenticator Microsoft Authenticator Yubico OTP (hardware key authentication) Zoho OneAuth TOTP Custom TOTP Authenticator SMS-based and email-based verification code	Not applicable	Supported* (Backup codes can be used only for challenge-based authenticators)	Not applicable
MFA for cloud applications	All the authenticators supported by ADSelfService Plus	Supported	Supported	Supported
MFA for ADSelfService Plus login	All the authenticators supported by ADSelfService Plus	Supported	Supported	Supported

MFA type	Can an idle time limit be set?	Can the browser or machine be trusted not to require MFA for a certain period?	Restrict user logins and self-service actions for unenrolled users:
MFA for self-service actions	Yes	No	Deny access to self-service actions when users are unenrolled. Partially enrolled users can be forced to enroll for the unenrolled authenticators and proceed with self-service actions.
MFA for Windows, macOS, and Linux logins	Yes	Yes	Deny or allow machine logins for unenrolled users, or enforce enrollment during login attempt.
MFA for OWA and Exchange admin center	Yes	Yes	Access to OWA and Exchange logins is denied for unenrolled users by default.
MFA for RADIUS-based VPNs, RDP, and other endpoints	Yes* (A session time limit is set to enforce users to complete authentication within the specified time)	No	Deny or allow logins for unenrolled users.
MFA for cloud applications	Yes	Yes	Deny or allow cloud application logins for unenrolled users.
MFA for ADSelfService Plus login	Yes	Yes	Deny or allow ADSelfService Plus logins for unenrolled users.

What are the authenticators supported by the ADSelfService Plus mobile app and mobile browser portal?

ADSelfService Plus offers 20 types of authenticators. Of these, 8 basic authenticators are available with every edition of ADSelfService Plus. The other 12 are advanced authenticators, available only with the Professional Edition of ADSelfService Plus.

This table provides detailed information on the basic and advanced authenticators supported for MFA in the ADSelfService Plus mobile app and mobile browser portal along with provisions for authenticator enrollment in the two consoles.

Authenticator	Authenticator type	Mobile browser portal			Mobile app
		Can users enroll in the authenticator in the mobile browser portal?	Is the authenticator supported for MFA for ADSelfService Plus logins?	Is the authenticator supported for MFA for self-service actions?	Can users enroll in the authenticator in the mobile app?	Is the authenticator supported for MFA for self-service actions?
Security Question and Answer	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Email Verification	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
SMS Verification	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Google Authenticator	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Microsoft Authenticator	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Duo Security	Advanced authenticator	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Radius Authentication	Advanced authenticator	No*	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes
Push Notification	Advanced authenticator	No+	No+	No+	Yes	Yes
QR Code Based Authentication	Advanced authenticator	No+	No+	No+	Yes	N/A
Fingerprint/Face ID Authentication	Advanced authenticator	No+	No+	No+	Yes	Yes
TOTP Authentication (Using ADSelfService Plus Mobile app)	Advanced authenticator	No+	No+	No+	Yes	N/A
AD Security Questions	Basic	No*	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes
Zoho OneAuth TOTP	Basic	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom TOTP authenticator with software Token	Basic	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Custom TOTP authenticator with Hardware token	Advanced authenticator	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smart Card Authentication	Advanced authenticator	No*	No	No	No*	No
SAML Authentication	Advanced authenticator	No*	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes
YubiKey Authenticator	Advanced authenticator	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Azure AD MFA	Advanced authenticator	No*	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes
RSA SecurID	Advanced authenticator	No*	Yes	Yes	No*	Yes
FIDO Passkeys	Advanced authenticator	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

* - Users do not have to enroll for these methods because they are automatically enrolled upon logging in the first time.
+ - These authenticators are native to the mobile app and cannot be used in the mobile browser portal.