Okta is moving beyond its identity management core with the debut of a new standalone security service designed to protect business data and applications.
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The Okta Adaptive Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) builds upon the single sign-on gateway with the infusion of analytics.
Boasted to support over 4,000 cloud-based applications, Okta has grown to serve more than 2,500 corporate customers, including Adobe, LinkedIn and Western Union.
Data about how those users access corporate networks and applications is feeding into Okta's new analytics service, which Okta said will help IT professionals make informed decisions about authorizing or denying access on a case-by-case basis.
For example, if an employee is using a mobile device with the Okta Verify authentication app installed, and that user tries to access a corporate app from another country, IT could set up a requirement for additional authentication before granting access.
Alternatively, Adaptive MFA can be configured to work with VPN and on-premise infrastructures among other second-factor security solutions, including those made by RSA, Symantec and Google, among others.
Also with analytics baked in, there is a smart element involved as Adaptive MFA would be able to use a mixture of user behavior data and global network authentication trends to hone in on unusual activity and potential risks.
Earlier this summer, Okta upgraded its mobility management platform (OMM) for better support of a myriad of functions and devices, including Apple Watch.
Okta first introduced OMM at the company's annual summit Oktane last November as a new layer to the brand's flagship Identity-as-a-Service (IDaaS) platform.
More recently in May, Okta rolled out a series of updates all aimed at improving links and strengthening ties to Google for Work and secure all Google enterprise offerings, from Apps to Chrome to Android.
Okta Adaptive MFA is scheduled to roll out immediately.
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