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Cardinal Key

Simplicity and Security

Get a Cardinal Key

Stanford is going passwordless. Cardinal Keys reduce or eliminate the need to use your SUNet ID and password for web-based logins and eliminate the need to use username, password, and two-step authentication for VPN connections.

Cardinal Keys are intended to simplify your login experience while providing stronger protection for your account. Cardinal Keys are far stronger than a username and password.

A Cardinal Key is a digital certificate that is installed on a device and provides a user’s identity to a remote server in place of a SUNet ID and password. Cardinal Keys are installed on a per-device basis, and the same Cardinal Key provides authentication to VPN and web single sign-on.

In order to use a Cardinal Key your device must be managed by BigFix or Mobile Device Management (MDM) and be compliant.

The Cardinal Key service is not currently supported on the following:

  • Computers not running BigFix
  • Android devices
  • Linux
  • Firefox browsers
  • Devices granted a compliance exception

Supported Platforms

Platform Browsers VPN Clients
  Chrome Safari Internet Explorer Microsoft Edge Firefox Cisco AnyConnect Native VPN
Windows Supported Not AvailableN/A Supported Supported Not Supported Supported Not Supported
Mac Supported Supported Not AvailableN/A Not AvailableN/A Not Supported Supported Not Supported
iOS Not Supported Supported Not AvailableN/A Not Supported Not Supported Not Supported Supported
Android Cardinal Key is not supported on Android and Linux platforms at this time.
Linux

Features

  • Improves security -  provides greater protection against credential phishing.
  • Less typing - reduces the need to enter SUNet and password on compliant devices.

Designed For

Faculty, staff, and students 

Requirements

Note: Cardinal Keys are not currently supported for Firefox browsers. Support will be added in a future phase.

Everyone

  • Valid SUNet ID with Two-Step Authentication configured
  • Computer managed by BigFix or mobile device managed by Mobile Device Management (AirWatch)
  • You must have administrator rights on the computer in order to install a Cardinal Key
  • Supported operating systems:
    • Windows 7 and later
    • macOS 10.7 and later
    • iOS 10 and later
  • Cisco AnyConnect VPN client is required for connecting to the Stanford VPN with Windows and Mac computers

Faculty, staff, and affiliates

  • Device must be compliant, without an exception on file, in MyDevices

Data Security

May be used on devices that store and transmit Low, Moderate, and High Risk Data.

Rates

Free of charge

Get Started

Please note: A Cardinal Key is unique to a device, so a single Cardinal Key should not be installed on multiple devices.

For those in the initial phase, to get started download and install a Cardinal Key for your platform:

Get Help

For assistance, please submit a Help ticket.

Learn More

Last modified May 21, 2019