• SUCCESS
  • PENDING
  • DENIED
  • HUMAN

How to trigger Duo authentication with your AI

Connect Duo Security to your AI client to handle identity verification. Your agent manages the request while you approve the push on your phone.

Ask AI about this page

Short answer

How do I trigger Duo authentication with my AI?

You tell your AI client to perform a sensitive action, and it uses the Duo Security MCP to send a push notification or SMS to your device. You approve the request on your phone, and the AI receives the confirmation to proceed. This allows you to maintain security without leaving your chat interface.

Authentication outcomes

Verification results

What happens after you request a challenge.

SUCCESS

Identity verified

The AI confirms your identity via the Duo API. It then proceeds with the requested task.

PENDING

Waiting for push

The AI waits for you to tap approve on your Duo mobile app or respond to an SMS.

DENIED

Access blocked

If you decline the push or the timeout hits, the AI stops the process immediately.

HUMAN

Manual intervention

If the authentication fails or requires a different method, you must handle the login manually.

The workflow

What your AI does when the challenge is requested.

The AI handles the API calls so you only have to worry about the physical approval.

  1. Initiate request

    Your agent starts the process by calling the Duo API to request a new authentication attempt.

    preauth

  2. Send challenge

    The system sends the Duo Push or SMS directly to your registered device.

    auth

  3. Monitor status

    The AI polls the Duo service to see if you have approved or denied the request.

    auth_status

  4. Finalize action

    Once the status shows success, the AI completes the original task you asked it to do.

    auth_status

Try it

Copy these to start.

Use these prompts to trigger Duo challenges in your chat.

Starting points

These are opening lines. Replace the bracketed text with your specific user or device details.

Duo Security Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_vZrSTXFunenPOtS5fqDzXaQfYS8LNoq0t0Z7onBU/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

  1. 1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
  2. 2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
  3. 3Click Add and start a new chat — Duo Security capabilities are ready to use.
Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "duo-security-two-factor-authentication-api-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_vZrSTXFunenPOtS5fqDzXaQfYS8LNoq0t0Z7onBU/mcp"
    }
  }
}
Copy into chat04

  • Trigger a Duo Push for my user account now.

  • Send a Duo SMS authentication challenge to my phone.

  • Check the status of my recent Duo authentication attempt.

  • Verify my identity using Duo before you access the secure files.

  • Claude
  • ChatGPT
  • Cursor
  • VS Code
  • Windsurf
  • Claude Code
  • JetBrains
  • Cline

Start here

Connect Duo Security once, then ask.

One connection links your Duo account to your AI client. Your credentials stay encrypted and secure on our side.

Connect Duo Security to your AI

FAQ

How the authentication behaves

  • 01

    Can the AI approve the Duo Push for me?

    No. The physical approval must happen on your mobile device or via SMS. The AI only triggers the request and waits for your response.

  • 02

    Can the AI change my Duo settings?

    No. The AI can only trigger authentication requests. It cannot modify your Duo user profile or security policies.

  • 03

    What happens if I don't respond to the push?

    The AI will continue to check the status until the request times out or you respond. If it times out, the AI will report the failure and stop the task.

  • 04

    Does the AI see my Duo passcode?

    No. The AI only receives the status of the authentication, such as whether it was approved or denied.

  • 05

    Can I use SMS instead of a Push notification?

    Yes. You can instruct your AI to trigger an SMS challenge instead of a Push.

  • More questions about Duo Security? See everything the Duo Security Connector can do

Connect Duo Security to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more