Overview
Authentication fields are the pieces of information a recipient has to provide to prove who they are before they can view a secure online template. Think of them as the questions on the login screen — things like surname, date of birth, or account number.
When a recipient clicks through to view their communication online, they'll be presented with an authenticated landing page asking for the fields you've selected here. Only once they've entered the right details will the content be revealed.
The fields you can choose from are pulled directly from the Fields set up in your Application. So the data variables you've already configured for personalisation double as the candidate pool for authentication.
Before you start
The fields shown in the Authentication Fields list are the ones already configured in your Application's Fields tab. If you want to use a field that isn't there yet, head to Fields first and add it before coming back to this section.
Find your authentication settings
Authentication fields live inside each Application, under the Security / data retention tab. Here's how to get there.
- In the secondary navigation menu, click Applications to view a list of all available Applications.
- Double-click the Application you want to update, or click the Settings icon on the right of the list view.
- Click the Security / data retention tab in the Application settings.
Choose which fields to use for login
Once you're on the Security / data retention page, you'll see the Authentication Fields card. It lists every field configured in your Application, with a Use for login checkbox next to each one. Ticking a checkbox tells the platform to ask recipients for that field on the authenticated landing page.
- Review the list of fields under Authentication Fields.
- Tick the Use for login checkbox next to each field you want recipients to enter.
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save to apply your changes.
That's it — your authentication fields are set. Anyone opening a secure online template from this Application will now be prompted to enter the fields you've selected before they can view the content.
Picking the right combination
Two fields is usually the sweet spot. Something like surname plus date of birth is enough to verify identity without making recipients hunt for half-forgotten reference numbers. The goal is enough friction to keep content secure, not so much that people give up before they get in.
Update or change your selections
You can come back and adjust the authentication fields at any time. Just untick the fields you no longer want to use, tick any new ones, and hit Save. The change applies to future authentication attempts straight away.