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SessionGuardian Windows VDI onboarding (continuous face verification)

This guide walks you through installing and registering SessionGuardian on your local Windows workstation. You'll install the SessionGuardian VDI application and Amazon WorkSpaces to prepare for secure remote access. This setup uses face verification for authentication.

Step 1 – Install required applications

Download and install the following applications.

SessionGuardian VDI for Windows

Install SessionGuardian VDI software only on your physical Windows device, not on a virtual desktop.

  1. Go to: https://downloads.sessionguardian.com/

  2. Click SG VDI for Windows to start the download.

    Result: The SessionGuardian.msi installer file downloads to your default Downloads folder.

    SG VDI download page

    Select SG VDI for Windows

  3. Double-click the downloaded .msi file to start the installation.

  4. Follow the installation prompts:

    • If you’ve used SessionGuardian before on this device, select the Delete existing user data check box, then click Next.

    • Otherwise, click Next.

    SessionGuardian VDI installer page

    Start installer

    Check box for "Delete existing user data" in installer wizard

    Select Delete existing user data if re-installing

  5. After installation, close the SessionGuardian VDI application.

Amazon WorkSpaces (AWS)

  1. Go to: https://clients.amazonWorkSpaces.com/

  2. Download the Amazon WorkSpaces client for Windows.

  3. Locate the downloaded file and double-click it to install.

  4. After installation, close the Amazon WorkSpaces application.

Caution

Close both applications on your local workstation after installation to ensure a clean activation process.

Step 2 – Set up your SecureAuth account

SessionGuardian uses a project-based onboarding process. You will receive an onboarding email with instructions specific to your project and access requirements.

  1. Open your onboarding email and click the link to access the SecureAuth Support account.

  2. See the SecureAuth Support Portal instructions for SessionGuardian for detailed steps on:

    • Selecting the correct SessionGuardian request type for Registration/Activation link

    • Submitting the form for project onboarding

  3. Once you receive the project invitation email, click the link labeled "link" to set up your project password.

    Result: A secure form opens for password creation.

  4. Create and confirm your project password following the password requirements shown on screen.

    Set project password on Welcome to SessionGuardian page

    Set project password

Step 3 – Register and capture your profile photo

  1. Click Begin Registration.

    Begin registration page

    Begin registration

  2. Scan the QR code on your computer screen with your mobile phone (see example screenshot below) and follow the prompts to take a profile picture.

    Scan QR code

    Scan QR code for mobile registration

  3. On the Activate Account page, click Launch SessionGuardian VDI.

    Activate account page

    Launch SessionGuardian VDI

    Result: Successful activation will bring you to the Welcome screen with a Security Status of "Successful".

    Start secure session page

    Welcome screen

  4. In the User Profile field, confirm or select your User Principal Name (UPN) for your project, if not already auto-populated.

    You can click in the list to view and select another UPN, if needed.

  5. Click Start Secure Session.

Step 4 – Connect to Amazon WorkSpaces

  1. After registration, the Amazon WorkSpaces login window opens.

  2. Your username is auto-populated; enter your project password that you created earlier.

    Login and connect to Amazon Workspaces

    Amazon WorkSpaces login window

  3. Click Sign In to access your virtual workspace.

    Result: You are now connected to your Amazon WorkSpaces session.

End your Amazon WorkSpaces session

When you finish your work, follow both steps to fully close your Amazon WorkSpaces session and secure session.

  1. In the Amazon WorkSpaces virtual desktop window, click the X in the upper-right corner to close the virtual desktop session.

    Result: An End Session dialog box appears. Click Yes to confirm.

    Close Amazon Workspace virtual desktop.

    Close Amazon Workspace. Click X to close and then confirm

  2. After the desktop window closes, the login screen appears. Click the X in the upper-right corner to close this window.

    Close SessionGuardian session.

    Close SessionGuardian. Click X to close and then Stop Secure Session.

    Result: The SessionGuardian dialog appears. Click Stop Secure Session.

How to start a secure session

Use these steps to manually launch a secure session if one is not already active.

  1. Open the SessionGuardian VDI application from your desktop or taskbar.

    sg_vdi_windows_start_session_001.png

    Click SessionGuardian VDI icon to start secure session

  2. Verify your user profile and click Start Secure Session.

    Start Secure Session dialog

    Click Start Secure Session.

  3. When the Amazon WorkSpaces login window appears, confirm your username and enter your project password.

    Login and connect to Amazon Workspaces

    Amazon WorkSpaces login window

    Result: After you enter and submit your AWS password, the system begins preparing or verifying your profile. A secure session begins, and you're connected to your vritual workspace.

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