Benefits

v-GO^® SSPR^TM 6.0

Simple Windows^® Password Reset featuring In-the-Flow^TM Access
First Confidence-Based User Identity Verification Engine
Easy to Deploy and Reduces Helpdesk Costs
A First Step to Strong Authentication

It happens all the time. A user tries to log into a corporate network but can't remember their Windows password when prompted and they're locked out of everything. It happens too often. And it costs money because the user can't work and has to call the company's helpdesk to reset the password. Up to 30 percent of all helpdesk calls are password-reset requests, on average taking 20 minutes to resolve and costing more $20 in helpdesk costs alone says market research firm Gartner Group.

Passlogix's newest solution, v-GO Self-Service Password Reset, (v-GO SSPR), eliminates those costs for the most frequently forgotten password, the Windows password. v-GO SSPR employs our exclusive In-The-Flow technology, which provides unparalleled usability to let users enroll and reset passwords on their own in a matter of minutes. That way, employees actually use the service, waste less time and the helpdesk can focus on more pressing matters. The result: lower costs and higher productivity.

Simple Enrollment and Password Reset featuring In-The-Flow access

Because helpdesk calls are costly and the process is a hassle, an increasing number of organizations have evaluated self-help tools. However, they discovered many have built-in inconveniences; they require users to learn and follow a new process and to hunt down another logged-on computer to reset their passwords, which often cause them to call the helpdesk anyway. Users of v-GO SSPR's do not have to do either of the aforementioned, thanks to our In-The-Flow technology.

In-The-Flow seamlessly and securely integrates the enrollment and password-reset process into the Windows logon flow, providing a simple enrollment and reset process where users need it most — at the Windows logon prompt on their computers. The upshot is that employees actually enroll and use the solution, which results in less time spent on resetting passwords and lower helpdesk costs.

First Confidence-Based User Identity Verification Engine

v-GO SSPR uses a question-and-answer process to initiate a reset. Users enroll once to answer a series of reset questions that range in difficulty are meaningful and specific to them. When your employees need to reset their password, they will be prompted to answer a Reset Quiz, where they supply the answers. Naming a first love or a mother's middle name are common questions. Some questions are by nature more secure than others, so giving the right answer to, are you left-handed, for instance, would not mean much, while the wrong answer would be a significant red flag. Well-constructed questions, with unforgettable answers that are difficult to guess, that malicious intruders are therefore unlikely to figure out, increase confidence when answered correctly.

If the user answers a sufficient number of questions accurately, the system verifies their identity and allows a password reset. Failure to attain a preset confidence score results in a password-reset denial.

Our unique identity verification engine reduces the number of false negatives from users who forget some answers or type them incorrectly. Properly selected and weighted questions significantly reduce the risk of intrusions through social engineering or lucky guesses. For the user, it means resetting a password in mere minutes, without having to call the helpdesk and potentially waiting for a callback. For administrators, it means the added security of sound and sustainable password policies and practices without unnecessary calls to the helpdesk because a user mis-keys an answer.

Easy to Deploy

Putting v-GO SSPR to work is a simple two-part process including setup by the administrator followed by user enrollment. It starts with an administrator logging on to the intuitive Management Console to configure the Enrollment Interview and Reset Quiz. Here the administrator inputs question text, scoring values, and confidence level limits that comply with the organization's security policies. Administrators may add or modify questions as needed to maintain appropriate security levels, and the tool keeps an audit of enrollment/reset activity and status.

Evaluation of individual questions depends on the secrecy of the answer and how personal and memorable the answer is. The administrator determines the minimum number of questions that must be answered to pass the success/failure score thresholds and the values for correct/incorrect answers. v-GO SSPR uses the overall threshold score to authorize or deny a password reset.

During a one-time Enrollment Interview the user answers the questions that randomly appear during the Reset Quiz, which is how v-GO SSPR verifies the user's identity. If the user provides a sufficient number of answers that match those given in the Enrollment Interview, the user is allowed to type in a new password and log on.

Reduces Helpdesk Costs

v-GO SSPR integrates seamlessly with v-GO SSO. v-GO SSO has been deployed at hundreds of companies worldwide to enable single sign-on for thousands of applications. v-GO SSO reduces help desk costs by eliminating the need for users to use all but the Windows password for sign-on to any application. v-GO SSPR extends the benefits of single sign-on by eliminating the possibility of users forgetting their Windows or domain password. In doing so, v-GO SSPR eliminates the possibility of users calling the help desk to reset that last password. v-GO SSPR completes the circle on eliminating support calls for password reset, further reducing costs.

A First Step to Strong Authentication

v-GO SSPR provides a safety net allowing organizations to harden their Windows passwords and implement strong authentication without incurring added support costs. Moving to more complex and frequently changed Windows passwords to better secure network access means an increased likelihood that users will forget and need to reset their Windows passwords.

Additionally, many companies are evaluating or implementing strong authentication technologies, such as smart cards or biometrics. When properly deployed, those technologies secure access to all network applications and resources, including logon to Windows. But when that authenticator is not available, the user must be able to fallback upon the Windows password to log on. If the user cannot remember that password, v-GO SSPR enables the user to pick a new Windows password and be on their way in less than a minute. By implementing v-GO SSO and v-GO SSPR, companies pave the way for a successful deployment of strong authentication.