Forcing SSH-MFA Two-Factor Authentication

How to force Multifactor Authentication when someone uses SSH to access a server or container protected by ZeroLock®.

    Ensuring usage of SSH-MFA two-factor authentication requires a multi-step process simplified by the ZeroLock Management Console (ZMC).


    The process consists of:

    1. Create and Add a New Rule
    2. Create a New Control Policy
    3. Create a New Endpoint Configuration Profile
    4. Applying a Configuration Profile to an Endpoint

    Create and Add a New Rule

    1. In the ZeroLock Management Console (ZMC) go to the Control Policies | Rules page then click Actions | Add New Rule
      Image_1_Policy Rules Actions_v4x

    2. The New Policy Rule screen is where the name, description, and rule type are entered. On entering the Rule Type from the drop-down menu, the screen expands as shown. Complete these using the table below then select CREATE.

      Image_2__New Policy Rule_v4
      Image_3_Entire New Policy Rule_v4

      Rule Name  

      Authenticate all SSH connections

      Description              

      This rule will force SSH MFA for all assigned Endpoints

      Rule Type

      SSH-MFA

      IP Address

      Leave as default

      Day/Time

      Leave as default

      Start/End

      Leave as default

      Action

      Authenticate



    Create a New Control Policy 

    1. As shown below, go to the Control Policies | Policies page and click Add New Policy. 
      Image_1_Policies screen

    2. The New Policy Rule screen is where the name, description, and rule type are entered.  On entering the Rule Type from the drop-down menu, the screen expands as shown. Complete these using the table below then select CREATE.  

      Name

      Force SSH Authentication

      Description

      This policy will force SSH authentication to all assigned endpoints.

      Add Rules

      Clicking the Add Rules button brings up the Policy Rules screen.

      Step_2A_New Policy screen

    3. On the Policy Rules screen, use the TYPE drop-down menu to select the type of rule you want.  Select SSH-MFA to bring up all those rules.Step_3_Rule Selection
    4. Scroll down until you locate the newly created rule, Force SSH Authentication, click the checkbox to select that rule, and then click ADD SELECTED. Step_4_SSH Rule Selected
    5. Clicking the Add Selected button returns you to the New Policy screen where selecting the CREATE button completes the creation of the new policy. 

      Step_5_Create



    Create a New Endpoint Configuration Profile

    1. Go to the System Configuration | Config Profiles page and click Add New Profile.

      Step_1_Config Profile Window

    2. Using the table, complete the required entries then click CREATE.

      Name

      Force SSH MFA and default settings

      Description

      This configuration restricts authentication while using all other defaults.

      Default Control Policy

      Force SSH Authentication

    Step_2_New Config Profile-1

     


    Assign the Configuration Profile to an Endpoint

    1. Select Endpoints from the menu then the endpoint(s) to which you want to assign the new configuration policy. Click on the Actions drop-down and select Set Endpoint Config(s).
      Image_10_Actions_Set Endpoint Config_v4

    2. Select the new configuration: Force SSH MFA and default settings and click Set Configs.
      Image_11_Set Endpoint Configs

    3. From the Endpoints screen, you should be able to see the assigned Profile.
      Step_3_Profile Applied to Endpoint_v4.1.3


    Test the SSH MFA Authentication Configuration

    SSH to the assigned endpoint to verify that the two-factor authentication requirement works.

    Test SSH MFA Config-1