Keeping your data secure is really important to us.
To help keep you safe online, we've strengthened our Alto login process by introducing a new authentication service designed to make sure your data is safer than ever.
This article includes:
- What is the new authentication service?
- How can I prepare for the new authentication?
- How will the new authentication be added to my account?
- What will change?
- FAQ's
What is the new authentication service?
The new authentication service we're using is the industry standard in data security. By implementing this to your Alto login, we’ll be able to keep your data more secure and improve your sign-in experience.
How can I prepare for the new authentication?
Ensure your Login Name is an active email address that you have access to. Your Alto Group Administrator can change it for you if needed.
How will the new authentication be added to my account?
You'll receive an email titled Changes to how you log into Alto letting you know that the new authentication will take place in the next few weeks.
When you next log in to your Alto account after your group has been migrated, you'll see the below message:
- Click Log in using this link to enter your login details again
- You'll receive an email to your Login Name email address that contains a verification code. When prompted, enter the verification code to prove that you have access to that email account
- You can now access Alto as normal. Simply sign in again using our new authentication process, which will look slightly different to before
You’ll only have to do the above steps once, unless you change your Login Name email address in the future.
For more information on Changing the Alto Login Name, click here
Note
Once your group has been migrated to our new authentication process, you can use the URL provided in your Changes to how you log into Alto email to access Alto.
- Click the ellipsis (three dots) in the top right hand corner of your browser
- Hover over Bookmarks and click Bookmark manager
- Click the ellipsis (three dots) in the top right hand corner and select Add new bookmark
- Enter a Name for your bookmark, i.e. 'Alto login', and then paste in the URL from the email we sent you
- Click Save
- Once this has saved, make sure you remove any previous bookmarks to avoid confusion
- Click the star (Favorites) in the top right hand corner of your browser
- Click the ellipsis (three dots) in the top right hand corner to open up More options
- Click Open favorites page
- Click Add favorite
- Enter a Name for your favorite, i.e. 'Alto login', and then paste in the URL from the email we sent you
- Click Save
- Once this has saved, make sure you remove any previous bookmarks to avoid confusion
What will change?
There are a number of things that will be different once you’re up and running, which are listed below:
Password resets and authentication
- If you forget your password, your Login Name email address will now be used to send a reset link, not the email address on your profile (although of course these may be the same)
- If you want to reset your password after you've logged in, you'll now trigger an email with a reset link, rather than changing it directly in the Alto screens
- Group Administrators will no longer have to unlock accounts if you or your colleagues enter passwords incorrectly too many times in a row. Instead, you’ll get an unlock email to your Login Name email address
- For a short while after you've moved to the new authentication service, you won't be able to enable two-factor authentication. This feature is coming soon!
For more information on How do I reset my password, click here
For more information on How do I unlock a user account, click here
Top navigation bar design
When you log in, you’ll notice a fresh new design for your top navigation bar.
- On the right, you can still access your account settings from the dropdown menu next to your name. You can also still access the Help Centre and Support from the Help dropdown menu
- The new Notifications dropdown menu is the place to go to see new emails (if you have integration with your email client). You can also view Bacs downloads and accounting documents there that are ready to print, if you use Alto for client accounting. Your recently run reports, which you currently access from an icon in your top navigation bar, are now available within Report requests in the top left of the screen when you’re in the Reports tab
FAQ's
- Why are you changing the login process?
Keeping your data secure is of paramount importance to us. We’re working hard to thwart risks behind the scenes, but we need to ensure that the way you log in to our products is as safe as it possibly can be. That’s why we’re implementing industry leading security for our Alto log in process.
- What happens if I do nothing at all?
Keeping your data safe is incredibly important to us, but we need your help here. If you can’t add a valid email address, we won’t be able to offer you the level of protection that we do to the rest of our customers, and you won't be able to take advantage of new developments to the product.
- I don’t have an email address, what do I do?
We understand that some of our customers may not have their own email addresses, but each user will need to add an address that they can access the inbox of, to enable them to verify (once) and receive password update information. If you don’t have an email address, we recommend that you open a new, free email account.
- I don’t want to use my personal email
We don’t want you to add any data that you feel uncomfortable sharing, but we assure you that the only emails you’ll receive are for password resets and security updates. We will never use this information for marketing purposes, or let anyone else, for that matter.
We know change can sometimes be daunting, so we’re here to help with any questions you may have. To contact Support, click Submit a request below and complete the contact form.