Enabling and Disabling the SmartPhone Authenticator Feature

SmartPhone Authenticator is only available for firms using the CCH Axcess login mode. By default, the SmartPhone Authenticator feature is disabled. A CCH Axcess administrator can enable or disable this feature using the procedures below.

For more information about how SmartPhone Authenticator works and why your firm should consider it, see SmartPhone Authenticator Overview

Important: Keep in mind the following when you're enabling or disabling SmartPhone Authenticator:

  • Once you enable SmartPhone Authenticator, staff members will be able to pair devices to their CCH Axcess user accounts. A paired device remains paired and can be used for authentication until the user unpairs it. This is true even if you later disable the SmartPhone Authenticator firm option.
  • SmartPhone Authenticator must be enabled for users to unpair their devices. If you no longer want staff members to authenticate using this method, instruct staff members to unpair their devices before you disable the feature.

Enable SmartPhone Authenticator

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Settings and defaults under Firm.
  2. Click Login Setup on the navigation panel.
  3. Verify that the CCH Axcess login mode is selected in the Login mode/Authentication mode section. SmartPhone Authenticator is not available for other login modes.
  4. In the 2-Step Verification configuration section, select the SmartPhone Authenticator check box.
  5. Review the message which displays, and then click Yes.
  6. Click OK.

Tip: Once SmartPhone Authenticator is enabled, you can share the Help topic Completing 2-Step Verification Using Your Smartphone with your staff so they can get started using the feature. They can also visit the video library on our Support site to view short demonstrations on installing and using the authenticator apps.

Disable SmartPhone Authenticator

  1. Open Dashboard, click Application Links on the navigation panel, and then click Settings and defaults under Firm.
  2. Click Login Setup on the navigation panel.
  3. In the 2-Step Verification configuration section, clear the SmartPhone Authenticator check box.
  4. Review the message which displays, and then click Yes.
  5. Click OK.