How can an Okta Administrator enforce user step-up authentication for a remote workforce?

Enforcing user step-up authentication for a remote workforce involves ensuring that additional layers of security are applied when users access sensitive resources, particularly from locations or devices that are considered high-risk. This approach helps mitigate threats associated with remote access.

Creating or modifying global session policies is an effective way to enforce step-up authentication. These policies can specify conditions under which additional verification measures are required, such as when a user is accessing the organization’s resources from an unrecognized location or device. By configuring these policies, the administrator can mandate that users provide additional authentication factors — for instance, through multifactor authentication (MFA) — whenever they access critical applications remotely. This ensures that even if a user’s password is compromised, an additional layer of security is in place to protect sensitive data.

In contrast, while modifying password policies may enhance overall security, it does not directly pertain to step-up authentication, as it does not necessarily introduce additional verification during a session. Restricting application access based on location is more about access control than step-up authentication itself, as it might simply block access rather than require additional verification. Implementing biometric verification methods would also provide a form of authentication, but it’s not a method specifically tailored to handle the step-up process within the existing