Essendon Volkswagen cuts password overload

Essendon Volkswagen staff in Melbourne no longer need to remember multiple passwords when they are accessing secure Volkswagen websites.

Salespeople have to access the websites to enquire about the cost and availability of cars while members of the finance team use secure websites to communicate with Volkswagen’s finance department. In addition, the parts department requires electronic parts catalogue websites while service people log in to websites for diagrams and technical information.

Each website requires a different password. However, staff members were resorting to using the same password on multiple sites or writing down passwords on paper notes.

In October 2014, Essendon Volkswagen’s IT partner Network Professional Services suggested they try out unified identity manager vendor Centrify’s User Suite to solve the multiple password issue.

The software provides an Active Directory login to smartphones, computers and cloud-based apps including Office 365, Salesforce.com and WebEx.

Staff members no longer need to use the passwords to the Volkswagen-related websites themselves because the software `remembers’ the passwords.

According to Essendon Volkswagen financial controller Les Hogan, the suite has made a huge difference.

“One personal password now gives our employees easy access to all the websites they need to do their jobs, which makes them happier, more productive and improves our security,” he said in a statement.

In addition, when staff members leave Essendon Volkswagen the suite removes access to websites that might be accessible from outside the company. This is because some of the websites could contain private information about Volkswagen customers.

This also means the company has taken steps to comply with Privacy Act legislation by protecting customer information.

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