Multi-factor Authentication context
Summarize
Summary of Multi-factor Authentication context
The Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) policy context in ServiceNow allows you to define when and how MFA is enforced during user login. This context ensures users provide a second form of authentication based on a policy, enhancing security without denying access outright. It overrides user or role-based MFA settings and applies only to user logins, excluding API authentication, basic auth, and OAuth resource owner password credential grants.
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Key Features
- MFA Policy Context Record: Defines the MFA enforcement method using policies rather than static user or role configurations.
- Default Policy Options:
- Step-Up MFA Policy: MFA is required only when specified policy conditions evaluate to true.
- Step-Down MFA Policy: MFA is enforced by default and not required only if policy conditions evaluate to true.
- Policy Configuration: The context references either Step-Up or Step-Down MFA policies, which include policy inputs and conditions. These can be reviewed but must be modified in their respective policy records.
- SSO Integration: MFA with Single Sign-On (SSO) is supported when the property
glide.authenticate.mfa.with.multisso.enabledis set to true.
Practical Use and Navigation
- Access the MFA context via All > Multi-factor Authentication > MFA Context in ServiceNow.
- Configure or edit policies from the referenced Step-Up or Step-Down MFA Policy fields using the provided reference icons to tailor MFA enforcement criteria.
- MFA context records provide a centralized view of the MFA enforcement logic applied to user logins.
Key Outcomes
- Policy-driven MFA enforcement ensures flexible and precise control over when users must provide additional authentication factors.
- Improved security posture by requiring MFA based on dynamic conditions rather than static user roles.
- Seamless integration with SSO environments when properly enabled.
The Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) policy context uses a policy to define how and when MFA is enforced during the login process.
MFA context record
The MFA policy context defines whether your users must provide a second form of authentication when logging in. This context does not deny access to your instance as the post-authentication and pre-authentication policies. The policy you select in this context takes precedence over user or role-based configurations for multi-factor authentication.
To access the MFA context, navigate to .
Use the fields in the Post-authentication policy context record to define how your instance uses your policy.
- If the default policy is Step-Up MFA Policy, users will be shown with Multi-factor Authentication if policy configured in Step-Up MFA Policy evaluates to true. Policy takes precedence over the user or role based configuration.
- MFA with SSO login will only be available if glide.authenticate.mfa.with.multisso.enabled Property is set to true.
- You can navigate to the Authentication Policy record to Add or Edit the 'Policy Input(s)' to the referenced Policy field (Step-Up MFA Policy or Step-Down MFA Policy).
- MFA context policy applies only for user log ins. It does not apply for API authentication, basic auth, and OAuth resource owner password credential grant.
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Name of the policy context. This field is static and cannot be changed. |
| Description | Description of the context |
| Default Policy | Defines the default behavior of this context when evaluating the policy. Select from
the following options.
|
| Step-Up MFA Policy | The policy used for this context uses. This field appears only when the Default Policy field is set to Step-Up MFA Policy. |
| Step-Down MFA Policy | The policy used for this context uses. This field appears only when the Default Policy field is set to Step-Down MFA Policy. |
Policy inputs and conditions
The Policy Input and Policy Conditions tabs
display the inputs and conditions of the policy selected in the Step-Up MFA
Policy or Step-Down MFA Policy field. These tabs serve as a
reference, but cannot be used to change the policy inputs or conditions. To modify your policy
settings, navigate to the policy using the reference icon () next to the Step-Up MFA Policy or Step-Down MFA
Policy field.
MFA factor policies
MFA factor policies are a critical component of an organization's security posture, enabling you to enforce additional verification steps beyond passwords. These policies define the authentication methods that users must employ to access providing a flexible and customizable approach to authentication. For more information, see Multi-Factor Authentication factor policies.