AuthLite Interactive Documentation
Home
Contents
CLOSE
AuthLite Interactive Documentation
Quick Start: Install and protect Domain Admins AuthLite Features Supported Tokens
How AuthLite uses YubiKeys
Installation and Upgrading
What platforms are supported? Prerequisites and Installation Linux systems MacOS machines
Configuration
Licensing AuthLite Set up User Groups
Configuring AuthLite to use your Group Pairs
Setting up the "Group for New Users"
Enforce 2-factor Logons
Use Group Policy to enforce 2-factor on Windows servers/workstations Secure Administrative Accounts with 2-factor Authentication Enforce 2-factor on File Shares using Access Control Lists (ACLs) Permit 1-factor Network Access to a Server Partial enforcement of a server (e.g. Exchange) with "Forced 2-factor Processes" Enforce non-Windows machines with "Forced 2-factor Computers" Enforce 2-factor logon to Office 365 with AuthLite LDAP logon support/enforcement
Windows Workstation (Endpoint) Protection
Cached (Offline) Workstation logon with YubiKeys Cached (Offline) Workstation logon with OATH tokens Zero-client two-factor workstation logons Workstation Safe mode operations
Remote Desktop
2FA over Remote Desktop Protocol 2FA with Remote Desktop Gateway / RemoteApp / RDWeb / RD Web Client
Replay Windows to support RDP and other re-authenticating protocols Replay Behavior setting VPN and RADIUS Configuration
Using IAS/NPS for RADIUS with AuthLite Microsoft VPN Client settings Wireless 802.1x Authentication DirectAccess and NetMotion Mobility XE Configure Watchguard SSL VPN with AuthLite
2FA for File Shares Active Directory Deployment Notes
Token Management
First: Configure Token Settings Provisioning Tokens Administratively
YubiKeys (Soft) OATH Tokens (Hardware) OATH Tokens OnlyKeys
User Self-Service
"Enroll in AuthLite" Windows program SET UP the Self-Service Web Portal USING the Self-Service Web Portal
View/Edit Existing Tokens Delegate Token Management Recovery Tokens Multiple OTP Tokens for the Same User Multiple users with the same OTP Token Password Operations
How to Log In Troubleshooting
CLOSE

Zero-client two-factor workstation logons

It is possible but not recommended to log in to workstations with 2-factor credentials even if the workstation has no AuthLite software installed. The DC's with AuthLite installed will still enforce Two-factor Authentication as expected.

Please note that without AuthLite software installed, 2-factor cached (offline) logins will not be possible. You can push this software with Group Policy, and it is recommended at the highest level to install the AuthLite client software if at all possible.

There are several important considerations for zero-client workstations:

  • You must disable cached logons for the workstation via Group policy. If you don't do this, then any attacker who knows the username and Windows password can log in simply by forcing the machine to go offline first. This is because without AuthLite software, Windows is unaware of the OTP security and continues to protect cached logons using only the Windows password.

  • Windows will hash the password field, so you must enter the OTP in the username field in order for it to reach the DC. On AuthLite-aware systems, no such limitation exists, because the software can intercept and process the authentication request properly regardless of how credentials are entered.

  • You should enforce the group policy to prevent the last username from being shown. This setting will ensure you always get a blank, type-able  username field during logons and unlocks. If you don't do this, then the unlock screen will only show a password field. To unlock, you'd have to use the “Switch User” functionality and select “other user” so you'd get a new opportunity to enter an OTP into the username field.

  • Parts of Windows will display the OTP you entered instead of showing the proper username. Although the correct username is returned in the session token, parts of the default Windows software will use the value that was typed in at logon time. This will result in generally cosmetic issues.

  • Because of a race condition in Windows, you may find that accessing LAN resources that require 2-factor authentication will be unreliable or sporadic.  With the AuthLite client installed, this is resolved.