Many organizations already rely on Physical Access Control System (PACS) credentials to manage physical entry to offices, facilities, restricted areas, and shared workspaces. Rublon MFA helps extend this familiar access model to digital authentication by allowing supported physical access credentials to be used as possession-based MFA factors for Windows Logon and RDP connections.
Scenario
An organization uses physical access credentials such as contactless access cards, contactless writeable cards, proximity cards, key fobs, Mobile ID, or RFID tokens to control entry to buildings and secure areas. Users already understand the access workflow: present a credential to a reader and gain access when the credential is valid.
IT wants to apply a similar possession-based model to digital access. Instead of relying only on passwords or introducing a completely separate authentication habit, the organization wants to use supported PACS credentials as part of multi-factor authentication for workforce access. For organizations that already issue RFID badges or door fobs, this approach is closely related to employee badge-based 2FA and MFA.
Challenge
Physical and digital access are often managed separately. A user may need one credential to enter the building, another method to log in to their local Windows account, and yet another method to connect via RDP. This creates unnecessary friction for users and additional management work for IT teams.
At the same time, password-only access to workstations and remote sessions increases the risk of unauthorized access when passwords are compromised. Organizations need a stronger authentication model that is easy for users to adopt and practical for administrators to manage.
Solution
Use Rublon MFA to add a possession-based authentication layer with supported physical access credentials. After entering a username and password, the user confirms access by presenting a supported RFID credential, such as a contactless access card, contactless writeable card, proximity card, key fob, or token, to a compatible reader.
This model is also useful in operational environments where multiple users access the same endpoint, such as shared Windows workstations secured with RFID-based MFA.
Rublon MFA creates a simple and familiar multi-factor authentication experience: something the user knows plus something the user has. Rublon MFA can protect local and remote access to Windows endpoints, helping organizations bring physical and digital access workflows closer together.
Benefits
- Extend physical access credentials to digital access: Use supported PACS credentials as MFA factors for workforce authentication.
- Support familiar contactless workflows: Let users authenticate by presenting a supported card, fob, token, or credential to a compatible reader.
- Reduce password-only risk: Require a possession factor in addition to the user’s password.
- Simplify adoption: Build on access habits users already understand from physical security workflows.