Backpacks are filled, textbooks covered and Labor Day is around the corner. Back to school time is here, signaling the end of summer vacations, start of a new school year and a refreshed focus on security…right?

As we mentioned on our blog back in May, the summer time often translates into a laid back summer mentality where our focus is geared more on fun in the sun than on protecting online identities. But we would be remiss not to send a friendly reminder to consumers and online services to not forget about password management as they zip their bags and prepare for fall activities.

Security is important to online service providers and to consumers, especially since online data and identity breaches occur all too often in today’s world. Part of the problem is passwords, and the need to remember so many of them. Yet accessing online services shouldn’t present authentication hurdles or security risks to either party. This is especially true for those online services consumers need and trust with their most sensitive information, such as government and financial services.  

As consumers prepare for the upcoming year, many will likely check to make sure everything is set with their student loans—are bills paid on time? Is this semester paid for? How much will I owe after this school year? But because these types of online services aren’t typically accessed consistently, the likelihood of a consumer remembering their credentials for each loan is probably pretty low—and if they write their usernames and passwords down on a Post-It note, well, that’s a whole other story [security nightmare!].

That’s why government agencies including the Government of Canada, are working to make online access simple and secure for consumers. SecureKey’s Concierge Service is teaming up with financial institutions across Canada to allow consumers to use their trusted, familiar banking credentials to access government online services. SecureKey’s Concierge Service eliminates the need to create and subsequently remember another set of usernames and passwords.

It’s the best of both worlds—consumers can access online services with ease, and service providers can offer the convenient and secure online experience users expect.

So now that summer’s over, make sure your authentication practices aren’t still on vacation.