Hitachi ID Password Manager can be accessed through a variety of user interfaces:

  • Transparent password synchronization is initiated from a native password change on a variety of existing systems, including Active Directory, Windows servers, OID, Linux and Unix (various), iSeries and z/OS (optional component).

  • Password Manager can invite users to enroll and notify users of events relating to their profiles, by sending e-mails, by opening a web browser from a network login script or by sending Windows popup messages to users who have signed into a domain.

  • Users can manage their passwords and authentication profiles using any web browser (desktop, smart phone, tablet, etc.). The web UI is compatible with reverse web proxies and can be load balanced across multiple, replicated Password Manager servers.

  • Users who forget their passwords can dial an interactive voice response (IVR) system with any telephone and initiate a password reset. Authentication is typically either with touch-tone input of answers to security questions, whose answers are numeric, or by prompting the user to speak the answer to a security question and performing a biometric voiceprint match.

    The call flow in an existing IVR system can be extended to handle this type of self-service, integrating with Password Manager via its API to effect password or PIN resets. Alternately, relevant calls can be rerouted to Hitachi ID Telephone Password Manager, which can handle the entire call flow itself. Telephone Password Manager is bundled with Password Manager (no cost).

    Note that IVR systems cannot change passwords cached locally on the user's PC, so are mainly appropriate for resetting VPN passwords, Extranet passwords and PC login passwords for users whose PC is physically attached to the corporate network.

  • Users who forget their PC login password can launch a kiosk-mode web browser from their PC login screen. This can be done using multiple methods:
    • The Hitachi ID Login Assistant Credential Provider (CP) : this is a client installed on Windows PCs, which adds elements to the login screen. This allows users who forgot their password or triggered an intruder lockout to access self-service password reset.

      A temporary VPN option is available to assist off-site users.

    • An equivalent MacOSX client enables access from the login screen of domain-joined Mac's, while on-premises.

    • A domain secure kiosk account (SKA): is an Active Directory user, normally called "help", with an easy-to-remember or blank password. A security policy (GPO) is applied to this user, to launch a locked down full-screen web browser instead of the usual Windows desktop. This option enables access to password reset from Windows PC login screens without deploying any client software at all.

  • The Hitachi ID Mobile Access app for Android or iOS enables users to access self-service using their smart phone, even if Password Manager is not configured with a public URL. Note that this cannot address issues related to credentials cached on user PCs.