Can any factor used to meet the Authentication Policy requirements be set as an authenticator in a global session policy rule?

The correct answer emphasizes that not all factors used to meet the Authentication Policy requirements can be set as authenticators in a global session policy rule. This distinction is crucial because the authentication mechanisms and policies in Okta serve different purposes and have unique configurations.

In the context of Okta's architecture, Authentication Policies are used to manage what factors users must provide to verify their identity during the login process, whereas session policies govern the conditions under which a user is granted access to applications after they have authenticated. Only certain factors are recognized as authenticators in a session policy context, and these are typically those that help manage the secure session itself.

Factors such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) methods might be part of the authentication policy but do not automatically equate to session authenticator settings. The integrity and security of active sessions are managed with specific session-based authenticators that may differ from initial authentication factors.

This clear separation ensures that session management operates independently from the more granular authentication criteria, preventing potential security risks and maintaining session integrity in a diverse organizational environment.