SecureLogin
2-factor authentication app
UX/UI design
There is an increasing need from our users to find a way to protect their accounts with an extra layer of security beyond passwords. As CAS is a true advocate and torchbearer for digital sovereignty it was obvious that we needed to bring our own solution to the table. This was the birth of SecureLogin.
Research
There are a couple of ways a 2-factor authenticator could work. What is sensible given our existing technology? How long does it take to develop it? Are there ways to expand in the future and offer more services? How can it fit into brand, is it an independent app or a part of our CRM? We explored these questions with the Product Owner and the Lead Developer. When creating the user flows, we decided to make variations for the top 3 solutions with their pros and cons and let stakeholders decide which route to take.
First drafts
Even though this app supposed to work with every CAS product and eventually any digital service that allows it, the main focus was still the CRM and its relation to this new app. During this time I worked on a facelift concept for the CRM itself, so I was told to use my new design when working on the project. It has a bigger affect on stakeholders when they see a shiny brand new look and a cool new service as well. Therefore I designed high-fidelity mockups instead of just wireframing because it was important for me to get feedback on the overall look and feel of the application. The name was still not clear at this point so I used a working name for the app and created a logo to tie the whole design together. I had short daily meetings with the PO and development where we discussed my designs and the whole process went smoothly and speedy.
The ideas were brought for review to the stakeholders during a board meeting. I learned that the project was greenlighted and development could start with the winner method of authentication so I started diving into details and edge cases which have not been clarified beforehand.
Back to the drawing board
The team got a new Product Owner around this time and this situation created a difficulty as it was not clear how well they were briefed and what extra information they were given that I was not aware of. There was a lack of information transfer and this caused some misunderstandings which took a little extra effort and empathy to fix. We quickly untangled the issue and I was grateful to work with such a resilient and cooperative person.
I was told that there are some changes that have to be made in the workflow on the CRM platform and also in UI design overall. The news were that this app would be launched before any redesign happens to the CRM itself, so I went back to the drawing board and changed the style of the application to match the existing design, but left room for future advancements. The name and logo were finalised as well. After handoff I supported development and did revisions on the built product to make sure all went according to design.
Like at every other instance, the way out of the confusion was open communication. It is crucial to be able to adapt in situations when requirements change or we have to shift to another direction.
Results
The ability to use second factor authentication is one of the key new features introduced in CAS genesisWorld x15 version. SecureLogin is here to protect users from unauthorised access to their CAS accounts. It can be found on App Store and Google Play.
