New SWAN Login ~ Tue, 01 Feb 2011 21:50:29 +0000
My role at Clayton State University (CSU) is to administer the campus web portal -- the SWAN. All students are required to use the SWAN to access their email and most other campus services. So the site is somewhat important.
A few months ago, someone attempted to phish our users's information by creating a mock SWAN login page. As a result, I was tasked with creating a new login system for our portal; one that would require the users to verify an image before entering their password. If you bank with certain major institutions then you are very likely familiar with the system.
[caption id="attachment_256" align="alignleft" width="150" caption="The old SWAN design."]
[/caption]
[caption id="attachment_260" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The new SWAN design."]
[/caption]
Prior to the phishing attempt, a colleague, Chris Baldwin, and I had been working to refresh the look of the login page. Since the phishing attempt created an impetus to change the login process very soon, I was also given the go ahead to get the redesign finished so that we could roll it out at the same time. So Chris and I got busy -- he creating the design, and me implementing his design and the new login system.
Very shortly, we had everything ready. So we submitted our work for approval, and thus because a three month long series of back-and-forth suggestions, changes, and testing. Finally, we got the approval to go live last week. So an announcement was made that the change would be coming 1 February 2011. I created a text tour of the changes, and John Wallom created two videos.
Well, the day came, I rolled out the new design and login system, and it went about as smooth as it could have. I had two undiscovered bugs to squash, but the majority of problems could be classified as "user error." I was very anxious about today, but I think it was one of the easiest major changes I have been a part of at CSU.
I want to thank everyone who helped me get this created and tested. It was a long process, but I feel like it has been a successful one.
Comments
James Sumners said (2011-02-02 19:06:26 GMT):
I think this camelhorse ended up looking much better than it could have ;)
James Sumners said (2011-02-02 19:04:29 GMT):
Thank you. I think you would be surprised at how simple it was to implement. There are things that I could have done, and maybe should have done, that would have made it much more complicated. But they would have been overkill for this application.
Dan said (2011-02-02 18:14:22 GMT):
A camel is a horse designed by committee.
Mr Frosti said (2011-02-01 23:11:31 GMT):
Glad to see the portal is in good hands. I am sure this was an undertaking, but it looks and operates great!