Client-side MFA - Steps and Checks To Prepare for Client-side MFA for Okta (for clients)

Introduction

This article guides clients through the necessary steps to prepare for enabling Client-Side Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) within Reward Gateway | Edenred (RGER). This feature allows RGER to recognize and trust the Multi-factor Authentication that your organization performs through your Identity Provider (IdP), such as Okta, minimizing additional MFA prompts when accessing RGER applications.

Note: This guide is designed to be only used for Okta.  

Outcomes

By following this guide, you will be able to:

• Ensure your IdP is properly configured for MFA and Single Sign-On (SSO)
• Work with your Reward Gateway | Edenred contact to enable Client-side MFA
• Verify successful integration and a seamless sign-in experience on web and mobile platforms

Prerequisites

Before configuring Client-Side MFA, please ensure:

• Your organization uses Okta as your IdP
• MFA enforcement is enabled and active on your company's IdP.
• Single Sign-On (SSO) is configured on your platform and working successfully.
• You have liaised with your CSM or Reward Gateway | Edenred contact who will coordinate the configuration process.

Step-by-step Configuration Process

Step 1. Confirm your MFA IdP setup

Ensure your IdP (Okta) has MFA enabled for users accessing your benefits platform.

Step 2. Configure IdP

Configure your IdP to send the correct authentication context class reference (ACR) or authentication level claims in the SAML or OIDC tokens to Reward Gateway IdP.

Ensure your IdP has MFA enabled for users accessing Reward Gateway services. This signal informs Reward Gateway that the user has successfully completed MFA.  

Step 3. Platform-Specific Instructions

To achieve this, client Okta administrators need to configure their custom SAML application in Okta to pass Dynamic Authentication Context.

1. Navigate to the App Integration

> Open the Okta Admin Console

> Go to Applications > Applications and select the SAML 2.0 app integration they created for your platform

> Click on the General tab and find the SAML Settings section, then click Edit

2. Configure the Custom SAML Attribute Statement

> Click Next to proceed to the Configure SAML step

> Scroll down to the Attribute Statements (optional) section

> Add a new row with the following values:

• Name: amr 
• Name format: Unspecified
• Value: session.amr

See also; Pass Dynamic Authentication Context

Testing

How to Check if SSO is Enabled:

• Log into the Okta Admin Console.
• Go to Applications > your platform’s application.
• Confirm SAML or OIDC SSO is active and users can sign in without issues.

How to Check if MFA is Enabled:

• Go to Security > Multifactor and review enabled factors.
• Review Security > Authentication > Policies to ensure MFA enforcement for your app/user groups.

How to Test Your SAML Response:

• Perform a login as a test user.
• Capture the SAML response (using browser developer tools or SAML tracer extension or see Step 3 Test your SAML response).

Look for the amr attribute or <AuthnContextClassRef> signifying MFA, such as:

<saml:Attribute Name="amr">
<saml:AttributeValue>mfa</saml:AttributeValue>
</saml:Attribute>
Other potential values for MFA evidence: mfa, otp, email_otp, phone_number_otp

Step 4. Confirm claims in the token

> Confirm that the claims in the token include MFA evidence(at least one of them). Example claims we expect to see:

Standard Context

<AuthnContextClassRef> 

urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:ac:classes:MobileTwoFactorContract 

urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:ac:classes:TelephonyNominalTwoFactor 

urn:oasis:names:tc:SAML:2.0:ac:classes:TimeSyncToken 

</AuthnContextClassRef> 

Custom Attributes

Okta values can include the following: amr values: email_otp, phone_number_otp, trusted_device, device_challenge, mfa, otp, totp, fido.

Step 5. Verify SSO is functioning correctly

Test normal SSO works through your IdP without errors.

Step 6. Discuss Client-Side MFA enablement with your Reward Gateway | Edenred contact

Request that the feature be enabled. Your contact with confirm when this has been set up.

Step 7. After confirmation of enablement, conduct testing

Log in via your IdP with Client-side MFA enabled.

Confirm members are not prompted for a second MFA challenge when logging into the platform.

Perform the same test on mobile devices for the Engage app

Step 8. Report any issues with MFA

If you experience unexpected MFA prompts or login difficulties, share any details with your CSM (or other Reward Gateway | Edenred contact) for troubleshooting.