CAC Card Certificates for Mac

The use of CAC (Common Access Card) cards with certificates is a common practice in various organizations, especially those that require high security and compliance with standards such as NIST SP 800-53. In this article, we will discuss the different ways to pair a PIV card with a local account on a Mac device.

Pairing a PIV Card with a Local Account

To pair a PIV card with a local account on a Mac device, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Insert the PIV card into a card reader connected to your macOS device.

2. The system will prompt you to pair the PIV card with the local account.

User-Based Enforcement (UBE)

In this implementation, an exception is created for specific users or groups of users who are exempt from using smart cards for authentication. This can include network admins, device admins, and individuals who have been waived from the smart card requirement.

Machine-Based Enforcement (MBE)

In this implementation, password-based authentication is disabled in favor of smart card-only authentication for all accounts accessible by the Mac device (local or network). To implement MBE, you will need to create a plist configuration file and disable local pairing on your macOS device.

Windows Domain User Account

For a Windows domain-joined device, you can map smart card attributes to an Active Directory account without requiring a domain or Kerberos architecture. This method pairs the smart card with the local Mac user account and requires its use for desktop authentication.

Local Account Pairing

For a non-domain joined Mac account, you can enable local account pairing by choosing an Authentication Option.

Enabling Mandatory Smart Card Login

To enforce mandatory smart card login for all Mac workstations and laptops within your environment, you will need to follow these steps. This will help align with the NIST SP 800-53 Identification and Authentication family of controls and support FISMA compliance.

In conclusion, pairing a PIV card with a local account on a Mac device is a straightforward process that can be done using different methods. By implementing user-based or machine-based enforcement, you can ensure that your organization's security standards are met while also providing a phishing-resistant authentication method for your users.

Cac card certificates mac