How to Set Up and Use Okta Verify

Summary

Learn how to set up and use Okta Verify as your multifactor authentication method on your CSUMB accounts.

Body

CSUMB requires a multifactor authentication method when logging into their account. Okta Verify is the most secure options when it comes to your multifactor authentication on your CSUMB Okta account. This article will go over:

  1. Why Okta Verify
  2. To set up Okta Verify you need
  3. Setting up Okta Verify
  4. How to switch to and use Okta Verify
  5. Additional Help

Why Okta Verify?

Okta Verify is our preferred multifactor authentication app at CSUMB. It's your "proof" that it is really you trying to log on to your account. These instructions will help you set-up and use Okta Verify.

Okta Verify is a great option for our students, staff and faculty who teach in some of the no-cell service areas on campus because as long as your device is on Wi-Fi, you won’t have to leave the classroom to authenticate.

For the same reason it’s also great for those who travel abroad because it works on both Wi-Fi and data plans and is not dependent only your cell service.

To set up Okta Verify you will need: 

  • A mobile device (iPhone, Android, iPad, tablet)
  • Your AppleID and password (or Google Play store log in information)
  • Your CSUMB username and password.

Set up Okta Verify

Step 1: On your mobile device download the Okta Verify app from your app store.

Okta Verify in the App Store

Note: Follow steps 2-3 only if you are setting up Okta Verify as an additional security factor. If you are setting your security factor for the first time using Okta Verify skip to step 4.

Step 2: Using your phone’s web browser log into your CSUMB Okta Dashboard using your CSUMB username and password.

Screenshot of the csumb.okta.com login page.

Screenshot of the csumb.okta.com dashboard.

Step 3: Tap on your name and then on Settings from the drop-down menu. 

Screenshot of the pull-down menu in okta with Settings option highlighted.

Step 4: Scroll down to the Security Methods box and tap the Set up button under Okta Verify.

Screenshot of the multifactor verification methods for CSUMB.

Step 5: Tap Set up Okta Verify.

Screenshot of the Set up Okta Verify box.

Note: If you do not have the Okta Verify App downloaded please make sure you download it now from your device’s app store.

Step 6: Tap the Add Account button at the bottom of the Add an Okta Verify Account screen.

Screenshot of the Add an Okta Verify screen with Add Account button selected.

You may get two screens explaining how Okta Verify works.

A screen showing a laptop and says How it works: When you access your organization's apps, use Okta Verify to confirm your identity.

Screenshot that shows a smartphone and says: Ways to verify. When signing in, enter a code from this app, tap Yes on a push notification, or tap the "Sign in using Okta Verify on this device" button.

Tap on Add Account.

Step 7: You will be prompted to log into your CSUMB account again. Click the Sign in button and you will be taken to the CSUMB Okta login box.

Screenshot of the CSUMB Okta sign in box.

Screenshot of the Okta Sign in box password field

Step 8: You will be asked to Allow Push Notifications. Click the Allow button.

Screenshot of Okta Verify Allow Push Notifications? screen with Allow option highlighted.

It's important to allow Okta Verify to send you push notifications so the app works as it should. 

Screenshot of pop-up "Okta Verify would like to send you notifications" with Allow selected.

Step 9 (optional): This next step is optional and maybe skipped. You will be asked if you want to allow Okta Verify to use your Face ID or your mobile device's passcode to allow access to the Okta Verify app. While you are not required to set up this function, we highly suggest it to keep Okta Verify as secure as possible. To use your Face ID or mobile passcode tap the Enable button. 

Screenshot of Okta Verify box asking Enable Face ID or Passcode Confirmation? with enable button highlighted.

Your device will then verify that you want to allow Okta Verify to use your FaceID or Passcode. Tap on the Allow button.

Screenshot of device warning asking if you want to allow Okta Verify to use your faceID/passcode.

Step 10: Your account has been successfully added to Okta Verify and you can now use it as your multifactor authentication method.

Screenshot of the Okta Verify Account Added confirmation screen.

How to switch to and use Okta Verify

Step 1: Log into csumb.edu with your CSUMB username and password.

Step 2: To switch over to Okta Verify for your security factor tap the Verify with something else link at the bottom of the security factor box.

Screenshot of the security factor screen from Okta Verify with the Verify with something else option highlighted at the bottom.

Step 3: You will be shown all the security methods you currently have enabled on your account. Tap or click Select next to the method you wish to use.

Screenshot of the list of available security factors: Enter a code (Okta Verify), Get a push notification (Okta Verify), phone.

With Okta Verify you will have two different options for your security factor authentication:

  • Enter a code
  • Get a push notification

You can use either method.

Enter a code method

With the Enter a code option you will be asked to launch your Okta Verify app and manually enter the code you see in the app.

Note: If you have enabled FaceID/Passcode during set up, you will not see the code until you complete the FaceID/Passcode. To initiate the FaceID/passcode just tap on the eye behind the obscured number to reveal it.

Screenshot of Okta Verify app with security code obscured and the eyeball icon next to it.

Type in the number on the screen before the bar tracking the time above the number runs out. In the picture below for instance the time lapse bar is at three fourths. 

Screenshot of Okta Verify app with CSUMB okta code 333810 and the time lapse bar at 3/4ths.

Push notifications method

With the Push method you will asked to tap a button after logging in that sends a push notification to your phone that you use to verify whether it's you logging in. 

The notification will ask if you are trying to log in.

Screenshot of Okta Verify notification that says: Did You Just Try to Sign In to Okta near Seaside California?

When you tap on the notification you can choose whether or not it's you signing in.

Screenshot of Okta push notification: Did You Just Try to Sign In?

You will then select the Yes, It's Me button if you are trying to sign in. You will automatically be authenticated into whatever resource you were trying to log into.

Note: If you tap the "No, it's Not Me" button accidentally (or on purpose) you will get a message stating that you've chosen to reject the the notification. If you do this three times in a row, your account will lock out.

Note: This method is especially useful for those who use wearable devices such as the Apple Watch.

Additional Help

 

Details

Details

Article ID: 135517
Created
Tue 11/23/21 2:12 PM
Modified
Wed 3/19/25 12:41 PM

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