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Options available in Cognos for MFA (Multi Factor Authentication)

Question & Answer


Question

What are the options currently available for Multifactor Authentication with Cognos Analytics 11.1.x release?

Answer


1. Use OpenID Connect connector e.g. OIDC for OKTA, Azure, IBM ID, Google Authentication etc.
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 Consider implementing separate security for external users in a separate namespace using OIDC provider.

 Such OIDC providers do have built-in capabilities to offer MFA/2FA features. This will enable to integrate Cognos Analytics 11.1.x in an SSO scenario with MFA/2FA.

  i. OKTA Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication
     https://www.okta.com/products/adaptive-multi-factor-authentication/

ii. Google Adding multi-factor authentication to your web app
     https://cloud.google.com/identity-platform/docs/web/mfa

iii. IBM ID Types of multifactor authentication
     https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/account?topic=account-types

 Implement setup OIDC with Cognos Analytics 11.1.x as a namespace using the guidelines below -

OpenID Connect authentication provider
 https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.1.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.inst_cr_winux.doc/c_openid_namespace.html

 IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.x, does NOT support DUO Security as an OIDC provider, however if DOU Security is capable of enabling OIDC, may consider using the Generic OIDC connector within IBM Cognos Analytics 11.1.x.

Generic OIDC provider type
 https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/en/SSEP7J_11.1.0/com.ibm.swg.ba.cognos.inst_cr_winux.doc/c_generic_oidc_type.html
2. 3rd party connector API tools to enable MFA/2FA using existing Microsoft Active Directory
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 If consideration determined to use existing Microsoft Active Directory (AD) for both internal and external users, only facility available would be resource other 3rd party connector API tools which enable MFA/2FA security features.

 Such 3rd party connector API tools would use separate Custom Java API Provider (CJAP) to implement SSO and MFA/2FA solutions using SAML (Secure XML).

i. Secure IBM Cognos with SAASPASS Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and Single Sign-On (SSO) with SAML Integration
    https://saaspass.com/sso/ibm-cognos-multi-factor-authentication-mfa-single-sign-on-saml/

ii. Ibm Cognos Single Sign-on (SSO) Integration
    https://authdigital.com/ibm-cognos-single-sign-on
PLEASE NOTE: The information and guidance provided by IBM Cognos Support is "as-is" generic approach and no details of the integration and design solutioning to be provided. Advice specific to each customer business requirement needs, requires good understanding of the functionality requirements and existing architectural integration point topologies. Such tailored expertise and advice will be better handled and provided through an engagement process through IBM Services.

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Document Information

Modified date:
12 April 2022

UID

ibm16571283