RSA as a CJIS-Compliant Alternative to YubiKey for Multi-Factor Authentication

As cyber threats increase across the public sector, government and law enforcement agencies face growing pressure to strengthen identity assurance without adding complexity for users. While YubiKey by Yubico is widely known for its simplicity and security, many organizations—especially those bound by CJIS (Criminal Justice Information Services) standards—find that RSA SecurID offers a more comprehensive and compliant multi-factor authentication (MFA) solution.

CJIS and Multi-Factor Authentication

The FBI’s CJIS Security Policy requires MFA for all personnel who access criminal justice information from non-secure locations or networks. The policy also mandates identity proofing, credential management, and audit logging—all areas where RSA excels.

CJIS does not prescribe a specific technology (e.g., YubiKey or RSA) but requires solutions that:

• Enforce unique user identification

• Support multi-factor authentication using two or more mechanisms (something you know, have, or are)

• Provide centralized auditing and access control

• Maintain compliance through lifecycle management and policy enforcement

Why RSA Fits CJIS Environments

RSA SecurID Access delivers strong MFA in a way that aligns closely with CJIS requirements:

• Centralized credential management – Administrators can provision, revoke, and audit tokens across thousands of users from a single console.

• Hardware and software token options – RSA supports both OTP-based physical tokens and mobile authenticators, ensuring flexibility for users in the field.

• Comprehensive audit trails – Every authentication event is logged and reportable, supporting CJIS audit readiness.

• Integration with legacy and modern systems – RSA works with VPNs, Active Directory, Azure AD, and cloud apps via RADIUS, SAML, and FIDO2 standards.

  
  

For agencies handling law enforcement data, this level of control and visibility is critical for maintaining CJIS compliance.

How YubiKey Compares

YubiKey offers modern, FIDO2-based hardware keys that deliver excellent phishing resistance and convenience. However, it typically lacks the centralized credential lifecycle management and detailed audit capabilities that CJIS-bound agencies require. While YubiKey can form part of a compliant MFA solution, additional identity management infrastructure would be needed to achieve full CJIS alignment.

The Hybrid Approach: RSA + FIDO2

Many agencies are now adopting hybrid MFA strategies—using RSA SecurID for administrative access, VPNs, and legacy systems, while deploying YubiKeys for passwordless authentication on modern applications. RSA’s latest FIDO2-compatible authenticators bridge these two worlds, providing a unified, policy-driven platform that satisfies CJIS while supporting modern user experiences.

Conclusion

Both RSA and YubiKey deliver strong authentication, but RSA’s centralized policy enforcement, extensive auditing, and CJIS-aligned architecture make it the more natural fit for public safety, law enforcement, and justice agencies.

For organizations operating under CJIS or similar compliance frameworks, RSA SecurID Access offers a proven, secure, and policy-driven MFA solution that can stand alone—or integrate seamlessly with YubiKey deployments—to ensure data integrity and compliance.