MFA Overview
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) adds an extra step when you sign in to Descartes Pacejet™. In addition to your username and password, you confirm your identity using a one-time code sent to your email or mobile phone. This protects your account if your password is guessed, reused elsewhere, or shared.
This article explains how MFA works for Pacejet users, how Descartes will introduce it in stages and what you will see when you set up or verify your preferred method.
With MFA turned on, you sign in with your normal Pacejet credentials and then confirm that it is really you. You do this by entering a short security code that is delivered to either your email address or your mobile phone.
You can choose from these MFA delivery options:
Email, where you receive a one-time code in your inbox.
Mobile phone, where you receive a one-time code by text message.
Once you enter the code successfully, you continue into Pacejet. If someone else tries to sign in as you, they would also need access to your email account or mobile phone to proceed.
MFA Readiness Stage
Before MFA becomes required for your Pacejet location, the Descartes team will first activate a MFA Readiness stage. When MFA Readiness is activated for your portal, all users will be prompted to setup and verify their MFA method. During this time, users are encouraged to set up and verify an MFA method while they continue to sign in as usual.
After signing in, when your account is in the readiness stage, you will see a guided setup experience. The steps are:
Pop-up dialog for MFA setup - users can enter verify their MFA setup.
Update your profile with a mobile number (optional) - If you want to receive MFA codes by text message, you add a mobile number on your profile page.
Choose your preferred MFA method - You select either email or mobile phone as your primary method for receiving codes.
Verify that your chosen method works - Pacejet sends a one-time code using the method you selected, and you enter that code on the verification screen.
After you select Save and Verify, Pacejet will send you a code via your preferred method. Login with the new code to verify.
During the MFA Readiness stage, your users can temporarily skip MFA setup for a limited time period if you are not ready to complete it. If you choose to skip, you return to normal sign-in and can complete MFA setup in a later session using the same guided steps.
Once you successfully verify your MFA method during readiness, you can start using it right away. The next time you sign in, Pacejet will prompt you for the verification code using your chosen method.
MFA Enforcement Stage
After a readiness period communicated to you by Descartes, your Pacejet portal will be marked for Enforce MFA. At that point, all users must complete MFA setup and verification to access Pacejet.
When MFA is required:
Users who already verified an MFA method during readiness continue to sign in using their existing method.
Users who did not complete setup are guided through adding a mobile number if needed, choosing a preferred method and verifying it before they can continue.
You cannot skip MFA once enforcement begins. Every user must have a working MFA method to complete sign-in.
Setting Up or Changing Your MFA Method
You can be prompted to set up MFA during either the readiness or enforcement stage. In both cases, the user interface walks you through three main steps.
Users or administrators can also open the User Administration page and update MFA details at any point.
Update Your Profile with a Mobile Number
If you wish to open the User Administration page to directly setup MFA,
On the profile page:
Open your Pacejet profile.
Find the mobile phone field.
Enter your mobile phone number, including country code if needed.
Select your Preferred Verification Method
Click Save to store your changes.
You can choose to use only email if you prefer. In that case, you still review your profile, but you are not required to add a mobile number.
Choose Your Preferred Verification Method
Users or administrations can set or change your Preferred Verification Method at any time.
If you wish to set or change your Preferred Verification method, open the User Administration page. Click a user to edit their profile.
On the Edit User page:
Select Email if you want codes sent to the email address on your Pacejet account.
Select Mobile phone if you want codes sent by text message to the mobile number in your profile.
Click Continue to move to verification.
You can return to the User Administration page if you need to change your preferred method.
Verify Your MFA Method
The next step is to confirm that you can receive and enter codes using your selected method.
On the verification screen:
Pacejet sends a one-time code to your chosen email or mobile phone.
Enter the code in the verification field.
Click Verify to complete setup.
If the code is correct and has not expired, you see a confirmation message and can continue into Pacejet.
Your MFA method is now active.
Login With Your Preferred Method
The final step is to login to Pacejet using your selected method.
On the Login screen:
Enter your username and click the Send Verification Code button
Pacejet sends a one-time code to your chosen email or mobile phone.
Enter the code in the Verification field.
Click Login to Pacejet to complete the login.
If the code is correct and has not expired, you see a confirmation message and can continue into Pacejet.
Your MFA method is now active.
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Using the Did Not Get Code Help Link
During verification and future sign-ins, a new Didn't get code? help link appears under the code entry field. This link provides options if you are having trouble receiving your code.
When you click Didn't get code?, you can:
Resend the code using the same method.
Request a new code using your alternate method, for example switching from email to mobile phone.
This is useful if multiple users share an email address or phone number, or if a code expires before you can use it. You can quickly request a fresh code without leaving the sign-in or setup flow.
What To Expect When MFA Is Required
Once Descartes requires MFA for your Pacejet location, you will see the MFA prompt every time you sign in.
The typical sign-in flow is:
Enter your username and password.
Receive a one-time code by your preferred method.
Enter the code on the MFA screen.
Continue into Pacejet.
If you continue to have trouble receiving codes after trying both methods, contact Descartes Customer Support for additional help.