Identity access management company Okta Inc. today announced Okta Device Access, a new product designed to enhance the security of corporate devices in a hybrid workforce environment.

Okta Device Access enables organizations to extend the company’s Identity and Access Management capabilities to secure access to corporate devices. As part of Okta’s Workforce Identity Cloud, the solution delivers stronger authentication to unlock a device, helping organizations achieve zero-trust while simplifying the employee login experience.

The solution is aimed at the problem wherein identity-based attacks remain a persistent threat, with more than 60% of security incidents involving stolen credentials and phishing attacks. As remote and hybrid workforces expand, protecting access to all corporate devices is becoming a top priority for many organizations.

Against this backdrop, Okta argues that organizations are shifting their focus toward protecting user and device identities. Okta Device Access enables businesses to secure access to both devices and applications and future-proof their hybrid work strategy by enabling employees to work easily and safely from anywhere according to the company.

Okta Device Access is designed to enhance the login experience by bringing seamless access to business apps to the point of device login. The unification of access management is said to increase productivity for administrators, who can now implement authentication policies across all user touchpoints, and employees, who can securely sign into their work devices and applications with a unified access experience. The service also reduces the number of passwords, potentially lowering the risk of cyberattacks.

The service offers compatibility with different devices and operating systems, such as Windows and macOS, with plans to support additional systems.

Okta Device Access launches with two capabilities: Desktop Multi-Factor Authentication for Windows and macOS and Desktop Password Sync for macOS. The Desktop MFA feature assists organizations in bolstering their zero-trust strategy by extending Okta’s Advanced MFA policies to the desktop login, offering enhanced protection for local data, native apps and non-internet-facing services on desktops.

The Desktop Password Sync feature for macOS, developed in collaboration with Apple enterprise management firm Jamf Holding Corp., securely provisions local macOS user accounts with Okta credentials, enabling phishing-resistant authentication to any Okta-protected app. The feature also allows organizations to integrate device context into their authentication flows, further improving security assurance.

“Identity has become the first line of defense in a hybrid world of cloud applications and devices,” Arnab Bose, chief product officer for workforce identity at Okta, said ahead of the launch. “We believe identity should empower IT and security teams to protect the enterprise across all touchpoints without compromising on productivity or agility.”

Desktop MFA for Windows and Desktop Password Sync for macOS will be available to Okta Workforce Identity Cloud customers in early access in the third quarter and generally available in the fourth quarter. Desktop MFA for macOS is planned to be available in early access in the fourth quarter and generally available in the first quarter of 2024.

Photo: Okta