Activate Continuous Authentication

---
title: Activate Continuous Authentication
description: To activate the Continuous Authentication feature on your instance, install the Zero Trust - Continuous Authentication \(com.snc.zero\_trust\_continuous\_authentication\) plugin.
locale: en-US
canonical_url: https://www.servicenow.com/docs/r/australia/platform-security/activate-continuous-authentication.html
release: australia
topic_type: task
last_updated: "2026-09-10"
reading_time_minutes: 1
breadcrumb: [Continuous Authentication \(CA\), Zero Trust Access, Access Management]
---

# Activate Continuous Authentication

To activate the Continuous Authentication feature on your instance, install the **Zero Trust - Continuous Authentication** \(`com.snc.zero_trust_continuous_authentication`\) plugin.

## Before you begin

Role required: admin

This plugin enables security administrators to define security policies that require step-up authentication \(MFA\) or re-authentication \(SSO\) within a logged-in session, based on the data the user is accessing and the activities they are performing.

The **Zero Trust - Continuous Authentication** \(`com.snc.zero_trust_continuous_authentication`\) must be installed to use CA, which requires a license.

## Procedure

1.  Navigate to **All** > **System Applications** > **All Available Applications** > **All**.

2.  Find the **Zero Trust - Continuous Authentication** \(`com.snc.zero_trust_continuous_authentication`\) plugin using the filter criteria and search bar.

    You can search for the plugin by its name or ID. If you cannot find a plugin, you might have to request it from ServiceNow personnel.

3.  Select **Install** to start the installation process.

    **Note:** When domain separation and delegated admin are enabled in an instance, the administrative user must be in the **global** domain. Otherwise, the following error appears: `Application installation is unavailable because another operation is running: Plugin Activation for <plugin name>.`

    You will see a message after installation is completed. For information about the components installed with a plugin, see [Find components installed with an application](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/platform-administration/find-components.md).


**Related topics**  


[Pre-work for Continuous Authentication](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-security/pre-work-ca.md)

[Configure Continuous Authentication](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-security/configure-ca.md)

[High assurance session with continuous authentication](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ServiceNow/ServiceNowDocs/australia/markdown/australia/platform-security/high-assurance-ca.md)