--- sourceDocument: Brazil Platform security sourceDocumentLink: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/platform-security Release : - brazil ft:locale : - en-US ft:publication_title : - Brazil Platform security ft:clusterId : - psec bundleId : - psec workflow : - Platform --- # Authentication policy contexts # Authentication policy contexts {#ariaid-title1} Release version: Brazil Updated September 10, 2026 ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 2 minutes to read Summarize ![AI sparkle icon](https://servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ai-sparkle-icon) Summarized using AI This content was generated using new OpenAI-powered functionality. Results are provided on an as is basis and are not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. ## Summary of Authentication policy contexts Authentication policy contexts in ServiceNow allow you to control how and when authentication policies are enforced during user login. By assigning policies to specific contexts, you can tailor authentication behavior at different stages of the login process to enhance security and access control. Show full answer Show less ## Authentication Policy Contexts * **Pre-authentication context:** Policies here are evaluated before users see the login screen. This context enables you to allow or deny access based on criteria that do not require user input, such as IP address or device type. Because no user information is available yet, role or group-based conditions cannot be applied. * **Post-authentication context:** These policies run after users submit credentials or SSO responses. They can leverage user-specific data like roles and groups to decide whether to grant or deny access. * **MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) context:** Policies in this context determine if and when MFA is enforced during authentication, enhancing security by requiring additional verification steps. * **Account recovery context:** Designed for administrators to manage recovery procedures such as handling SSO misconfigurations or expired certificates. At least one admin must be registered as an account recovery user before enabling Single Sign-On (SSO). * **Session validation context:** Used with the Adaptive authentication policy framework to evaluate active sessions and decide access permissions based on defined policy conditions. ## Default Policy Within each authentication policy context, you can specify a default policy that governs how the instance responds after policy evaluation. The available default options vary depending on the context and dictate the overall access control behavior. ## Practical Impact for ServiceNow Customers By leveraging authentication policy contexts, you can create flexible, context-aware authentication strategies that improve security and user experience. Whether you need to block unauthorized access early, enforce MFA, handle account recovery securely, or validate sessions adaptively, ServiceNow's policy contexts provide the mechanisms to implement these controls effectively. Use authentication policy contexts to determine how and when your instance enforces authentication policies. Authentication contexts define how and when a policy is enforced during the login process. Assign a policy to a policy context to define inputs and conditions regarding how your instance handles authentication. ## Pre-authentication context {#auth-policy-contexts__section_hhm_dqx_3pb} Policies in the pre-authorization context execute when a user first accesses the instance, before the they see a login screen. You can use the pre-authorization context to allow or deny access before your users are prompted for login credentials based on your selected policy. Because these policies evaluate before a user enters any information, those policies cannot take criteria such as a user's roles or groups into account. For more detail on this context, see [Pre authentication context](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/ooCPstmy77BwqL15~Y7kpQ "The pre authentication policy context defines how and when a policy is enforced during the login process. The policy used in this context executes before your users see a login screen."). ## Post-authentication context {#auth-policy-contexts__section_gbq_fqx_3pb} Policies in the post-authorization context execute after your users enter their credentials or SSO response. Your instance allows or denies access based on your selected policy. Because your users have identified themselves via their login credentials, the policy can use user information to determine whether to grant access. For more detail on this context, see [Post-authentication context](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/8iMp2ylZihh6GjM4pru7tA "The Post Authentication policy context defines how and when a policy is enforced during the login process. The policy used in this context executes after your users see a login screen."). ## MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) context {#auth-policy-contexts__section_d4j_gqx_wpb} Policies assigned to the MFA context define whether to enforce MFA during the login process. Whether your instance enforces MFA is determined by the configuration of policies in this context. For more detail on this context, see [Multi-factor Authentication context](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/wHcELM1cl762eALKbSgKVA "The Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) policy context uses a policy to define how and when MFA is enforced during the login process."). ## Account recovery context {#auth-policy-contexts__section_vtz_xlx_jrb} Administrators can configure account recovery (ACR) to perform recovery activities such as addressing SSO misconfiguration or expired certificates. To use account recovery, you must register at least one admin account as an account recovery user. Single sign-on can't be activated on your instance until there is at least one account configured. For more information about the context that can be set, see [Account recovery context](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/XJXEfPbe6viY61MtrjcRwQ "The account recovery context uses a policy to define how and when the account recovery can be established."). ## Session Validation context {#auth-policy-contexts__section_z5q_jyw_mzb} The Session Validation context can be used with the Adaptive authentication policy framework. The framework uses authentication policies to evaluate authentication requests (session) and then either deny or allow access based on policy conditions. For more information, see [Session validation context](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/RYxVHbPuviUQg8zcDQ1QFA "Use the Session Validation Context as an additional layer of protection against session or cookie hijacking."). ## Default policy {#auth-policy-contexts__section_k3y_cqx_3pb} Within the policy context, you can define a default policy in the Default Policy field. This default defines how your instance responds to the result of your policy. The available default policy options are determined by which context you are using. Detail on these options can be found in the docs describing these individual contexts.