N-central Troubleshooting
How to enable Multi Factor Authentication, 2FA or MFA using N-able N-central and 3rd party Authenticator such as Google Authenticator or Authy
Last Modified
Wed Jul 01 19:06 GMT 2020
Description
- How to enable Multi Factor Authentication (2FA or MFA) using N-able N-central and 3rd party Authenticator such as Google Authenticator or Authy
Environment
- N-able N-central 12.2 or later
Solution
- Check N-able N-central server time. Ensure that N-able N-central 's time is very accurate for your local time zone.
- If necessary, login with the Product Admin, browse to Administration > Mail and Network Settings > Network Setup > under Date and Time, check that the Time Zone is correct and NTP server is reachable > click the Synchronize button.
- If necessary, login with the Product Admin, browse to Administration > Mail and Network Settings > Network Setup > under Date and Time, check that the Time Zone is correct and NTP server is reachable > click the Synchronize button.
- Enable MFA. Browse to Administration > Users > place a checkmark beside the MFA username > click Two Factor Authentication button > click Enable Two Factor Authentication.
- Have the user install an Authenticator App, such as Google Authenticator, Authy, Duo, Windows Authenticator, or other applicable app.
- Create an account with the third party as needed.
- Login to N-able N-central using the MFA enabled account.
- When prompted by N-able N-central, quickly Scan the QR code, or click Can't Scan to obtain the key, and input it into the Authenticator App.
- For Authy Desktop Users, click Tokens > Plus sign to Add Account > paste the key provided by N-able N-central (click Can't Scan to view the key) > Add Account > type an account name (e.g. "N-central"), choose a logo > Save.
- For Authy Desktop Users, click Tokens > Plus sign to Add Account > paste the key provided by N-able N-central (click Can't Scan to view the key) > Add Account > type an account name (e.g. "N-central"), choose a logo > Save.
- Copy and Paste the Passcode from the Authenticator App into the Passcode field on the N-able N-central login screen.
- Open the Authenticator App > click your newly created "N-central" account and copy the Passcode, then paste it into the Passcode field to log in.
- Open the Authenticator App > click your newly created "N-central" account and copy the Passcode, then paste it into the Passcode field to log in.
- Save the Backup Codes. N-able N-central provides a set of one-time use backup codes to use for access if your App is not available at the moment. Save these for later!
- The user is logged in to N-able N-central and MFA setup is complete!
- In the future, N-able N-central will continue to prompt the user for the Passcode. Open the Authenticator app and click on the "N-central" account to copy and paste the passcode for successful login.