Signing in with your HMS account is now faster and more secure. Starting Monday, February 9, Okta FastPass is available for HMS account sign-in, giving you the option to use biometrics — such as fingerprint or facial recognition — or a PIN for two-factor authentication (2FA).
To start using biometrics or a PIN to sign-in, set up Okta FastPass through the Okta Verify app on your computer or mobile device.
Set up FastPass
Okta FastPass uses your device's built-in biometric capabilities to verify your identity during sign-in. Instead of opening the Okta Verify app and approving a push notification, your fingerprint or facial recognition completes the authentication step.
This option has previously been available for HarvardKey sign-in and is now extended to HMS account.
To get started:
- Ensure the Okta Verify app is installed on your computer or mobile device
- Follow the instructions to set up Okta Verify for your HMS account and enable FastPass
Part of a broader transition
FastPass for your HMS account is the latest step in Harvard's move from Duo to Okta Verify for two-factor authentication. Harvard University Information Technology (HUIT) is replacing Duo with Okta across all HarvardKey-protected resources, and HMS IT has extended the same capability to HMS account sign-in. If you already use Okta Verify for HarvardKey, you can add your HMS account to the same app — one app for both credentials. Duo will be retired in the future, so setting up Okta Verify now ensures a smooth transition.