How does it work?

Certero Passworks™ uses a simple challenge/response technique that allows you to reset your Windows password from any PC or Server where the client software has been installed. Through a simple button added to the Windows login screen you can quickly and easily reset your password by answering the questions you completed during registration.

Registering

Before you can reset your own password you must register your user account with the Passworks server.

Don't worry though, it's is a simple as one, two, three. Your administrator has already selected the number of questions you need to complete so all you have to do is pick the ones that are personal to you and enter your answers.

After completing your questions you receive a confirmation email. You can then run the Passworks Reset Wizard if you ever forget your Windows password.

Reseting your password

You return to work refreshed after a 2 week break in the mediterranean. On your last day at work before you left for your holiday you had to change your password and now you haven't the faintest idea what you set it to. You try 3 different passwords but none of them work and you end up locking out your account.

You then spot the Reset Password button on the Windows login screen and launch the Passworks Reset Wizard. After entering the answers to 3 personal questions you reset your password and login to Windows. What used to take you 10 minutes on the phone has just taken you less than 2.

Security

All user responses are stored in the database using secure, one-way, MD5 encryption, meaning that no-one can find out what answers a user may have entered. In addition, all communication between client applications and the web server is encrypted, meaning data is undetectable even by packet sniffers.

Auditing

What happens if someone guesses a user’s answers and successfully resets their password? Every action in Passworks™ is audited so when a password is reset, the computer name and IP address from which the attempt was made is logged in the database. The end user is also sent an email alerting them of the password change, asking them to contact the service desk immediately if they did not do it themselves. These messages are fully customisable within Passworks™ and can be tailored to your requirements.

If you would like more information about Passworks then please contact us using the details at the top of this page or fill in our Online Enquiry Form.