Coming June 27: New Login Screen Prepares For Blackbaud ID

Bryna Gleich

We hope you are already aware of our ongoing early adopter program (EAP)  for Blackbaud ID, which is Blackbaud's authentication service.


In preparation for the general availability release, we need to make a change to the log in screens for all schools with the June 27, 2018 release. Even schools who are not currently enrolled in the EAP will see a slight change to their login screens with this month's release.  


Specifically, users will enter their Username (as they did previously) and then they will now select Next. The solution uses that information to check how the user authenticates into your school's solution. Then, the user is prompted to enter their Password to log in. 


Previously, users did not select Next to access the password portion of the login experience. This change enables your Blackbaud solution to check for multiple modes of authentication based on a username lookup process. Since most parents and students are not in school during summer, we believe now is a good time to make this necessary update.

Tip: See more of Blackbaud ID in action in this webinar. 

Although the release of Blackbaud ID for staff and students will be generally available to all schools later this fall, we strongly recommend you get a jump start; start authenticating via single-sign on (SSO) with the EAP. We recommend Blackbaud ID because it:

• improves the single-sign on (SSO) experience for schools that want to manage application authentication through their network credentials.
• replaces our existing LDAP integration.
• enables your school to set up SSO to Google, and replaces our Google Apps SSO integration.
• gives you more control with your Identity Provider (IdP); you can enable 2-factor authentication or manage a user’s access to reset their password.
• will be necessary later this year for admins to use the online chat/case central links (from the help panel).
• will be required for new features available via early adopter programs. For example, Blackbaud Mail will require authentication via Blackbaud ID.
• enables you to single sign-on with Smart Tuition and NXT solutions.
• is the way of the future. We have more work to do before we expect schools to offer this experience to parents and candidates, but within the next year we expect this to become the preferred authentication method for all users.

Scott Daniel

For users that currently have their password "remembered" in the current configuration, will that password "fill in" with the new login?


I'm trying to anticipate how many lost password situations we should expect Wednesday.


Scott Daniel

Bryna Gleich

Hi Scott.  Good question! The "Remember me" option will still appear on the first login screen (before the user selects "Next"). This option still saves the username; usernames should be remembered as they were before this update. However, for security reasons, the 'ON' products still do not remember passwords. If a user has used an internet browser or a password management tool (such as Last Pass) to save passwords, it is still up to the third party tool to continue to remember the password after this update. 

Vincent Jurgens

Any change to Forgot Login, First Login flow?  I'm sending out online Forms to all parents, with a bunch of new parents and students with never-before-used logins.

We have them use the Forgot Login flow, not Temporary passwords, where they use the email we have on file for them to retrieve 2 emails: one with username, one with password reset link.

Is Forgot Login... link on first screen still?

Is customized text of above link the same? (Core/Settings/Security/Authentication...)

Are all Custom Text modifications still applied as expected? (Core/Settings/LabelsText/CustomText-Messages...)

Automatic locking after x wrong password attempts the same?

Extra verification using First Name the same in certain situations

Are username and password reset emails the same format, functionality?

Bryna Gleich

Hi Vincent. The "Forgot login/First time login" link appears on both of the login screens (before and after "Next") and its functionality is preserved. Lock outs, reset emails, extra verification, etc are still the same too. Please note that on July 9th, users with multiple "personas" (aka admins like you, but not students, etc.) will receive the new top navigation experience that's also been in EAP recently. As of July 9, if you want to change the messages for the sign in process or other custom labels/text, you'll do so from "Core," "Communication," Sign in messages," and select "Messages"  or from "Core," "Settings," Custom labels & text," and select "Custom text/messages." So managing those messages will be under slightly different menu labels, but ultimately fewer "clicks" away.