Multifactor Authentication in Tactical Environments

Two Factor Authentication is cumbersome using traditional methods, and given unique constraints of tactical networks responsible for Ship Safety/Self Protect, in which operating system login/logoff causes undo delays. Use of Internet or local certificate authority to support PKI does not align with disconnected networks and could cause fatal delays. Multi-Factor Authentication Service Architecture (MuFASA) within this SBIR effort leverages RFID tokens, delivering separation from operating systems, independence from certificate authorities, and resilience via disconnected survivability while delivering a highly usable and responsive architecture that provides shipboard provisioning, inexpensive COTS hardware, STIG-compliance, and enables modified levels of authentication to support ship missions, and is extensible to support groups and any combination of devices, users, and privileges for highly configurable tactical access control.