How to Configure Privilege Management for Mac to Use Smart Cards

In today's digital landscape, security is a top priority for any organization. One of the ways to ensure that your data remains safe is by implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) using smart cards. In this article, we will discuss how to configure privilege management for Mac to use smart cards.

Authorization Requirements

Before we dive into the configuration process, it's essential to understand the authorization requirements. A designated user must authenticate an action before proceeding. This means that users must authorize themselves before performing any actions. MFA with smart cards supports various authorization types, including defaults write /Library/Preferences/allowUnmappedUsers -int 1.

Configuring Privilege Management for Mac

To require users to enter their smart card PIN for any action controlled by Privilege Management for Mac, you must first set up your estate to use MFA and deploy Privilege Management for Mac successfully. You can run the command manually or distribute a script through an MDM solution.

Command Line Option

If you choose to run the command manually, prepend 'sudo' to the line. The following command should be run on each endpoint:

`defaults write /Library/Preferences/allowUnmappedUsers -int 1`

Privilege Management for Mac Policy

To use Privilege Management for Mac with a policy that enforces using smart cards on a local machine, you must configure the endpoints to allow unmapped users to authenticate using passwords only. Failure to do so will prevent Privilege Management for Mac from authorizing controlled rights on behalf of the user.

MFA Implementation

Privilege Management for Mac supports both smart cards and Yubikey. If MFA using smart cards is implemented in your environment, you can configure Privilege Management for Mac to work with your MFA implementation.

In conclusion, configuring privilege management for Mac to use smart cards is a straightforward process that requires careful attention to authorization requirements and endpoint configuration. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure that your organization's data remains secure and protected from unauthorized access.

Smart cards mac