RADIUS is the two-factor method used by CyberArk PSMP for privileged sessions.

RADIUS: The Unique Two-Factor Gatekeeper for CyberArk PSMP

If you’ve been around CyberArk’s world for a bit, you’ve noticed how carefully access to privileged sessions is controlled. The Privileged Session Manager for PAM (PSMP) sits at a critical chokepoint, ensuring that those who initiate sensitive sessions are who they say they are. Two-factor authentication is the shield here, and for PSMP, the standout method is RADIUS. Let me explain why this one is special and how it fits into a broader security story.

Meet PSMP and the two-factor question

PSMP is designed to supervise privileged sessions from start to finish. It doesn’t just stop a breach at the door; it watches what happens inside a session and can intervene if something looks off. When you’re guarding accounts with elevated permissions, that extra check—two factors rather than one—becomes a practical necessity. People know this instinctively: a password alone is a weak barrier in high-stakes environments.

Now, you might wonder, “Aren’t there other two-factor options like RSA SecurID, PKI, or Windows authentication?” The short answer is yes, many methods can support security in varied contexts. The important point for PSMP is that RADIUS is the uniquely designated two-factor authentication mechanism for this specific component. In other words, when we call out the PSMP two-factor approach, RADIUS is the one that’s purpose-built to work with the way PSMP handles sessions and user validation.

Why RADIUS stands out for PSMP

Here’s the thing about RADIUS: it’s a central, standardized way to handle authentication requests. It sits between the user (or their device) and the backend that confirms who they are. For PSMP, that means:

• Consistency across the environment: a single authentication flow can be shared by many systems and services.

• Compatibility with existing infrastructure: most organizations already run a RADIUS server for VPNs, Wi‑Fi access, or other services. PSMP can piggyback on that established trust.

• Flexibility in tokens: the “something you possess” factor can be a hardware token, a software token on a mobile device, or even a multi-factor provider that speaks RADIUS. That lets security teams choose what fits their risk model and user base.

• Centralized control: policy, auditing, and reporting sit in one place, making it easier to enforce rules, track activity, and respond to anomalies.

Think of RADIUS as the tollbooth for privileged access. You present credentials, the toll reads them, and then you’re granted a pass to the PSMP tunnel—provided the second factor checks out. The two-factor dance happens in a way that’s well understood by network teams, which reduces friction during deployment and ongoing operations.

How the flow actually works (without getting too technical)

Let’s walk through a typical RADIUS-enabled PSMP login scenario, in plain terms:

• A user requests a privileged session via PSMP.

• PSMP prompts for the user’s first factor (usually a password).

• PSMP forwards the authentication request to the RADIUS server, asking for the second factor as well.

• The user provides the second factor (a token, a push confirmation on a phone, or another supported method).

• The RADIUS server validates both factors and sends a green light back to PSMP.

• PSMP grants access to the privileged session, and the monitoring continues as long as the session is active.

If the second factor doesn’t pass, access is denied, and no session starts. That immediate, decisive outcome is what keeps privilege abuse from slipping through.

A quick note on the “why” behind the other options

RSA SecurID, PKI, and Windows authentication are all legitimate approaches in various corners of an organization. They’re not wrong for their own environments. What sets PSMP apart is not saying “no” to those methods, but recognizing that RADIUS provides a clean, centralized conduit for the two-factor requirement specific to PSMP’s workflow. It’s less about a single tool and more about a harmonized pairing that fits the way PSMP manages privileged sessions.

From a security perspective, this pairing reduces the attack surface in a meaningful way. If you’ve ever faced phishing-resistant concerns or token fatigue, you know how important it is to minimize risk while keeping the user experience practical. RADIUS, when deployed thoughtfully with PSMP, helps strike that balance.

Practical touches that matter in the real world

If you’re exploring RADIUS for PSMP in a real environment, here are some practical considerations that tend to matter most:

• Token strategy: decide between hardware tokens and soft tokens, and factor in user types, mobility, and support burden. RADIUS works with both, but the user experience can differ.

• Redundancy and uptime: have at least one redundant RADIUS server and clear failover procedures. Privileged access won’t wait for a single point of failure.

• Network reliability: RADIUS is a networked protocol. Ensure the paths between PSMP, the RADIUS server, and any back-end identity stores are robust and well‑documented.

• Auditing and reporting: leverage the integration to capture authentication events, rejections, and factor failures. This data is priceless for security reviews and incident response.

• Compatibility with identity sources: RADIUS can connect to various identity stores and MFA providers. Map these connections carefully to avoid gaps or mismatches.

A practical analogy to ground the concept

Imagine PSMP as a high-security club with a strict guest policy. RADIUS is the bouncer system that handles the guest list and the second check at the door. Passwords are your first impression, the second factor is the fingerprint scan. The bouncer cross-checks both and, if everything lines up, you’re allowed inside the club room where the privileged actions happen. If the fingerprint doesn’t match or the guest isn’t on the list, the door stays shut. That’s precisely how PSMP’s two-factor flow operates—calm, decisive, and reliable.

A few tips that tend to help teams

• Start with a pilot: test the RADIUS-PSMP flow with a small group of users and a representative set of devices. It’s easier to smooth out kinks before wide rollout.

• Document the policy logic: write down how factors are validated, what constitutes a pass, and what triggers a lockout. Clear rules prevent confusion during incidents.

• Align with incident response: ensure that failed authentications and session starts feed into your security workflows so you can detect patterns and respond quickly.

• Keep the user experience reasonable: select authentication methods that balance security with usability. A frictionless second factor is a true leader in user adoption.

Why this matters for the broader security picture

Two-factor authentication isn’t about chasing the latest trend. It’s about making privileged access predictable and safer. When two factors are required for PSMP, organizations gain a measurable improvement in control over who can start privileged sessions and what they can do once inside. The “two things you know and you have” model isn’t merely a checklist item; it’s a practical barrier that reduces the odds of careless mistakes and opportunistic intrusions.

A closing thought

If you’re mapping out CyberArk’s architecture and you see PSMP at the center of privileged workflows, you’ll likely encounter RADIUS as the trusted partner for two-factor authentication. It’s not flashy, but it’s dependable—like a quiet workhorse that keeps a complex system honest. In security, reliability often wins the day, and with RADIUS protecting PSMP, you’re building a stronger, more resilient foundation for privileged access.

If you’re curious about how this pairing might look in your environment, consider how your current tokens, networks, and identity sources could harmonize with a RADIUS-backed PSMP flow. The result isn’t just safer access—it’s smoother operations, clearer audits, and fewer headaches when things go bump in the night. And that’s a win worth aiming for.