The Department of War’s (DoW) approach to digital identity has reached a turning point.
Peraton, in partnership with Okta and the DoW, is expanding myAuth — the first multifactor authentication (MFA) solution to achieve Identity Assurance Level 2 (IAL2) for the DoW, and a next-generation platform built to serve approximately 20 million users across the defense community. More than a system replacement, myAuth represents a fundamental rethinking of who needs secure access and how to deliver it at scale.
A Long-Overdue Upgrade
The DoW’s legacy authentication infrastructure was built for a different era – one that assumed a narrower, more uniform user base. myAuth changes that equation entirely. Built on the commercially proven Okta Platform and deployed and operated by Peraton, myAuth delivers the DoW’s first IAL2-compliant MFA solution: a cloud-native, modern authentication experience that meets the rigorous security standards demanded by the federal government while remaining accessible to the full breadth of the DoW community.
The platform supports multiple authentication methods through Okta Verify, including biometric login (face or fingerprint recognition), push notifications, time-based one-time passcodes (TOTP), and Okta FastPass.
Critically, myAuth is purpose-built to extend secure access beyond the traditional CAC-holding user base serving retirees, dependents, contractors, and others who need reliable access to DoW services like Tricare, the Defense Travel System, and HR portals without relying on a physical credential.
Built for Scale, Built for Mission
The numbers behind myAuth are staggering. Within just two months of launch, 900,000 users had already enrolled, which is a testament to both the demand for a better solution and the platform’s ease of adoption. The full rollout is expected to conclude within 18 months, replacing the legacy system across more than 200 DoW and VA websites.
But myAuth’s ambitions extend well beyond a one-for-one credential swap. The platform is purpose-built to extend secure access beyond the traditional DoW user base, enabling an expanded mission that encompasses a broader, more dynamic set of personas.
Leveraging the flexibility of the Okta Platform and operated by Peraton, myAuth supports external mission partners, coalition stakeholders, and contractors with transient or just-in-time access requirements through federated identity, lifecycle automation, and policy-based access controls. It also enables future DoW personnel to securely onboard and gain early access to mission systems prior to issuance of a Common Access Card (CAC), reducing time-to-productivity while maintaining strong identity assurance. By decoupling identity from physical credentials and embracing modern authentication standards, myAuth delivers a scalable, zero-trust-aligned capability that adapts to evolving workforce models and mission needs.
Hosted in a DoW-authorized cloud with a Provisional Authorization from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), myAuth is engineered for resilience with a 99.99% uptime service level agreement. Its architecture supports multiple levels of assurance, allowing individual applications to tailor authentication requirements to their specific mission needs.
“myAuth is more than a system upgrade — it’s a gamechanger for the entire DoW community,” said Steven Irish, VP & GM of Defense Enterprise and Health Solutions at Peraton. “We’ve delivered on the Secretary of War and CIO’s direction to prioritize and enable commercial solutions by modernizing capabilities for service members and their families.”
Peraton Deepens Its Commitment with $49M AMASS Award
The myAuth launch is just one piece of Peraton’s expanding identity and access management portfolio within the DoW. In April 2026, Peraton was awarded a 5-year, $48.6 million task order for Alternative Multifactor Authentication Support Services (AMASS) under the Defense Human Resources Activity (DHRA) and the Defense Manpower Data Center (DMDC).
The AMASS contract, awarded through the DEHRADS (Defense Enterprise HR Applications and Data Services) contract vehicle, underscores Peraton’s growing role as the DoW’s trusted partner for cybersecurity-focused identity solutions. Combined with recent awards for the $200M Defense Travel System (DTS) and a $20M Defense Retired and Annuitant Pay System modernization effort, Peraton is cementing its position as a cornerstone provider of enterprise IT and human resources technology across the defense enterprise.
The Bigger Picture: Identity as a National Security Imperative
myAuth reflects a broader strategic imperative: in an era of sophisticated cyber threats and increasingly distributed workforces, identity is the new perimeter. Achieving IAL2 assurance spanning those who need access is not just a technical milestone. It’s a national security imperative.
By combining Okta’s industry-leading identity platform with Peraton’s deep mission expertise and operational track record, the DoW has taken a decisive step toward a more secure, more resilient, and more inclusive digital infrastructure.
As Amy Johanek, VP of Federal at Okta, put it: “myAuth is a prime example of how modern identity technology, combined with the right mission-focused partner, can provide both high assurance and high accessibility at massive scale.”
For the millions of DoW community members – whether they carry a CAC or not – who depend on seamless access to essential services, that promise is already becoming a reality.
