Enable Two-Factor Authentication Using Smart Cards
Focus
Focus
GlobalProtect

Enable Two-Factor Authentication Using Smart Cards

Table of Contents
End-of-Life (EoL)

Enable Two-Factor Authentication Using Smart Cards

If you want to enable your end users to authenticate using a smart card or common access card (CAC), you must import the Root CA certificate that issued the certificates contained on the CAC or smart cards onto the portal and gateway. You can then create a certificate profile that includes that Root CA and apply it to your portal and/or gateway configurations to enable use of the smart card in the authentication process.
Two-factor authentication using smart cards is supported on macOS and Windows endpoints.
  1. Set up your smart card infrastructure.
    This procedure assumes that you have deployed smart cards and smart card readers to your end users.
    For specific instructions, refer to the documentation for the authentication provider software.
    In most cases, the smart card infrastructure setup involves the generating of certificates for end users and participating servers, which are the GlobalProtect portal and gateway(s) in this use case.
  2. Import the Root CA certificate that issued the client certificates contained on the end user smart cards.
    Make sure the certificate is accessible from your management system, and then complete the following steps:
    1. Select DeviceCertificate ManagementCertificatesDevice Certificates, and then Import a certificate.
    2. Enter a Certificate Name.
    3. Enter the path and name of the Certificate File received from the CA, or Browse to locate the file.
    4. Select Base64 Encoded Certificate (PEM) from the File Format drop-down, and then click OK to import the certificate.
  3. Create the certificate profile on each portal/gateway on which you plan to use CAC or smart card authentication.
    For details on other certificate profile fields, such as whether to use CRL or OCSP, refer to the online help.
    1. Select DeviceCertificate ManagementCertificate Profile.
    2. Select an existing certificate profile or Add a new one.
    3. Enter a Name for the certificate profile.
    4. Select the certificate Username Field that PAN-OS uses to match the IP address for User-ID–either Subject to use a common name, Subject Alt: Email to use an email address, or Subject Alt: Principal Name to use the Principal Name.
    5. In the CA Certificates area, Add the trusted root CA certificate you imported in step 2 to the certificate profile. When prompted, select the CA Certificate, and then click OK.
    6. Click OK to save the certificate profile.
  4. Assign the certificate profile to the portal or gateway. This step describes how to add the certificate profile to the portal or gateway configuration. For details on setting up these components, see GlobalProtect Portals and GlobalProtect Gateways.
    1. Select NetworkGlobalProtectPortals or Gateways
    2. Select an existing portal or gateway configuration or Add a new one.
    3. On the GlobalProtect Gateway Configuration dialog, select Authentication.
    4. Select the Certificate Profile you just created.
    5. Click OK to save the configuration.
  5. Commit the configuration.
  6. Verify the configuration.
    From an endpoint running the GlobalProtect app, try to connect to the gateway or portal on which you set up smart card-enabled authentication. When prompted, insert your smart card and verify that you can successfully authenticate to GlobalProtect.