Okta Tips, Tricks, and Previews

Okta arrived at JMU in March, and since it’s still new to many of us, there’s still a lot to learn. JMU Information Technology is constantly at work trying to expand Okta’s capabilities and to get the most out of this new security tool. Read on for a few tips to improve your Okta experience and find out about great things to come.

Enroll a Second Device

Imagine you’ve lost or replaced your phone, and your old one was the only security method that you’d configured in Okta. Suddenly, you can’t access any JMU system, and you now have to contact the IT Help Desk to get your new phone set up. This means an unexpected trip to campus to have your identity verified and to have your account reset. You can avoid this scenario entirely by registering a second security method, such as a Yubikey or another phone/tablet to serve as a backup. It’s a bit like having a second key to your car to avoid having to call a locksmith.

A Yubikey is a small device that plugs into the USB port of your computer. It’s a convenient way to speed up the login process for JMU systems, because you won’t need to reach for your phone. Yubikeys are available to Employees through the IT Help Desk, and anyone can purchase one from the JMU Bookstore.

Speaking of not having to touch your phone during login, in the coming months, IT will distribute Okta Verify to JMU-managed computers. By running Verify directly on your computer, you can streamline the login process by verifying your identity from the computer instead of from your phone.

Have a MacBook? Did you know you can enable Touch ID as a security method in Okta?

Use a Password Manager

There are many benefits to using a password manager, most notably by greatly reducing the time it takes to log in by automatically filling in your username and password on the websites you visit. 1Password is a popular, JMU-approved password manager, so you or your department can purchase it without IT review or submitting a Technology Solution Request (TSR). By using a password manager, you can log into many JMU systems without ever touching the keyboard.

Coming Soon: Okta FastPass

JMU Information Technology is currently evaluating Okta FastPass, a feature of Okta Verify. In some scenarios, FastPass will allow for passwordless authentication to some JMU systems, which will further improve login times and convenience. Look for more announcements on this new feature in the Fall semester.

Questions and Information

If you have questions about Okta, please contact the IT Help Desk at (540)568-3555 or helpdesk@jmu.edu. If you’d like more updates or information on what’s new or upcoming with Okta at JMU, please refer to the project website at: https://www.jmu.edu/computing/accounts-and-access/okta.shtml