When using SecurID, users carry a small device or “token” that generates and displays a random password. According to RSA, each SecurID authenticator token has a unique 64-bit symmetric key that is combined with a powerful algorithm to generate a new code every 60 seconds. The token is time-synchronized with the SecurID RSA ACE/Server.

The RSA ACE/Server is the management component of the SecurID system. It stores and validates the information about the SecurID tokens allowed on your network. Alternately the server could be an RSA SecurID 130 Appliance.

The Agent Host is the server on your network, in this case it is the FortiGate unit, that intercepts user logon attempts. The Agent Host gathers the user ID and password entered from their SecurID token, and sends that information to the RSA ACE/Server to be validated. If valid, a reply comes back indicating it is a valid logon and the FortiGate unit allows the user access to the network resources specified in the associated security policy.