Global access policy

An account must have a global access policy. The single global policy is, in effect, the default or fallback policy that is evaluated only if no exception policies match the scope of the access request. The scope of the global policy applies to all user groups and applications by default, and you cannot change the scope. You can configure only the default access requirements that apply to all users and applications.

STA is delivered with a global policy that is configured with the following access requirements by default: domain password once per session and OTP every access attempt.

Access policies apply strictly to traffic from applications that are configured on the STA Access Management console, on the Applications tab. Access policies do not apply to traffic that comes through the authentication nodes that are configured on the STA Token Management console (including RADIUS).

The first time that you access the Policies tab, STA prompts you to set your global policy and (optionally) a scenario. After you save a global policy, these prompts no longer display. However, you can edit the global policy at any time.

1. On the STA Access Management console, select the Policies tab.

1. Select the credentials with which all users must authenticate:

   • Password: Require users to authenticate with their domain password at specified times.

     To use the domain password, you must use the SafeNet Synchronization Agent to synchronize the domain password from Active Directory (AD) with the STA server.

     If you use password authentication, you can also select the following option:

   • Allow Integrated Windows Authentication (Kerberos): When you select this option, STA accepts the Kerberos ticket that was acquired when the user logged in to their current Windows session. Users do not have to re-enter their password each time they access an application that is secured by STA access policies. However, the user might still be prompted for an OTP if the policy requires it.

     This option is available only if integrated Windows authentication is configured on the Settings tab. It also requires that the AD and STA establish a trust relationship.

   • OTP: Require users to authenticate with a one-time password (OTP) at specified times.

   • Password and OTP: When both a password and an OTP are required for authentication, STA prompts the user for the password first.

   • FIDO: Users must log in with their built-in authenticator or security key, such as Windows Hello for Business and FIDO2 authenticators. FIDO cannot be used in combination with an OTP or with CBA. This option is available only if FIDO authentication is enabled on the Settings tab.

   • Certificate-based authentication (CBA): Users authenticate with a software or hardware certificate, such as a smart card, that is issued by a certificate authority (CA). This option is available only if at least one issuing CA is configured on the Settings tab.

     CBA is available with only the STA Premium subscription plan.

   • External IDP: STA orchestrates the use of secondary, external IDPs, such as SAS PCE or Microsoft Entra ID. Each external IDP can be either the only authentication method or the second factor of authentication. It cannot be the first factor in multi-factor authentication.

     IDP orchestration is available with the STA and STA Premium subscription plans.

2. Select how often users must provide their credentials:

   • Once per session: Prompt the user to authenticate once per STA SSO session within a browser.

   • If not verified in the last [number of minutes or hours]: Prompt the user to authenticate at least every N minutes or hours. Select the value that meets your organization's requirements. The values supported by STA are: 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes; as well as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 hours.

     Use this option to provide a presence check for sensitive applications by requiring users to re-authenticate if the specified number of minutes or hours have elapsed since they last accessed the application.

     Between this setting and the single sign-on session timeout, the shortest setting takes precedence.

   • Every access attempt: Prompt the user to authenticate regardless of whether they previously authenticated in the current STA SSO session.

     If you use CBA, some certificates and their drivers might have their own session, apart from the STA SSO session, and might not prompt a user for authentication. For example, the user might not be prompted to authenticate as long as a smart card is inserted in a computer.

3. Click Save.

4. (Optional) Add a scenario.