Proxy password reset
A method for resetting a network password of a first user initiated by a second user is provided. The method comprises a system receiving a request from the second user to reset the password of the first user, wherein the first user is associated with the network. After receiving the request, verification that the second user has a hierarchal relationship to the first user, and that the second user has an active status in the network is completed. After the verification, the network password of the first user is then reset. A notification about resetting the network password is sent to a mobile communication device associated with the first user. Contact information of the second user is found in a data store based on an identification of the second user in the request; another notification is sent about resetting the network password to a communication account of the second user.
1. A method for resetting a network password of a first user initiated by a second user, comprising:
receiving a request from the second user to reset the network password of the first user, wherein the network password of the first user is associated with a network, and wherein the second user is not a help desk worker;
in response to receiving the request, accessing a data store that comprises contact information and relationship statuses between users;
in response to accessing the data store, verifying that there is a hierarchal relationship between the first user and the second user based on a relationship status between the first and second users in the data store, wherein the hierarchical relationship comprises the second user being in a chain of command or reporting structure above the first user;
verifying that the second user has an active status in the network, wherein the second user with the active status has a valid password and is permitted to access the network via the valid password;
based on verifying the hierarchical relationship and the active status of the second user, resetting the network password of the first user;
sending a first notification about resetting the network password to a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is associated with the first user;
looking up contact information of the second user in the data store based on an identification of the second user contained in the request; and
sending a second notification about resetting the network password to a communication account of the second user based on the contact information of the second user.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending a third notification about resetting the network password to a communication account of the first user.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user is not associated with an active status.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request from the second user is received by a password reset website hosted on the network or is received in the form of an email message.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the request comprises a network identity of the first user.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the network identity of the first user is an active directory (AD) identity.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an unlock request from the second user to unlock a locked network password of a third user, wherein the network password of the third user is associated with the network;
verifying that the second user has a hierarchical relationship to the third user;
based on verifying the hierarchical relationship of the second user to the third user and the active status of the second user, unlocking the network password of the third user;
sending a fourth notification about unlocking the network password of the third user to a second mobile communication device, wherein the second mobile communication device is associated with the third user; and
sending a fifth notification about unlocking the network password of the third user to the communication account of the second user based on the contact information of the second user.
8. A method for resetting a network password of a first user initiated by a second user, comprising:
receiving an email request message from the second user to reset the network password of the first user, wherein the network password of the first user is associated with a network, and wherein the second user is not a help desk worker;
verifying that the source of the email request message is in the network to which the network password is associated;
in response to receiving the email request message, accessing a data store that comprises contact information and relationship statuses between users;
in response to accessing the data store, verifying that there is a hierarchal relationship between the first user and the second user based on a relationship status between the first and second users in the data store, wherein the hierarchical relationship comprises the second user being in a chain of command or reporting structure above the first user;
verifying that the second user has an active status in the network, wherein the second user with the active status has a valid password and is permitted to access the network via the valid password;
based on verifying the source of the email request message, the hierarchical relationship, and the active status of the second user, resetting the network password of the first user;
sending a first notification about resetting the network password to a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is associated with the first user;
looking up contact information of the second user in the data store based on an identification of the second user contained in the email request message; and
sending a second notification about resetting the network password to a communication account of the second user based on the contact information of the second user.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the contact information of the second user is an email address of the second user and wherein the second notification is an email message.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hierarchical relationship of the second user to the first user is that the second user is the manager or the supervisor of the first user.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the hierarchical relationship of the second user to the first user is that the second user is a peer of a manager of the first user.
12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first notification is sent to the mobile communication device as a short message service (SMS) message or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.
13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first notification comprises a new network password of the first user.
14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending a third notification about resetting the network password to a communication account of the first user.
15. A method for resetting a network password of a first user initiated by a second user, comprising:
receiving a request from the second user to reset the network password of the first user, wherein the request is received by a password internet site hosted on a network that the network password provides access to, and wherein the second user is not a help desk worker;
verifying that the second user is associated with an account comprising an active status and is logged into the network, wherein the second user with the account comprising the active status has a valid password and is permitted to access the network via the valid password;
in response to receiving the request, accessing a data store that comprises contact information and relationship statuses between users;
in response to accessing the data store, verifying that the second user has a support relationship to the first user based on a relationship status between the first and second users in the data store, wherein the second user has the support relationship to the first user when the second user is designated as a technical point-of-contact for a plurality of individuals having access to the network including the first user;
based on verifying the support relationship, the active status, and that the second user is logged into the network, resetting the network password of the first user;
sending a first notification about resetting the network password to a mobile communication device, wherein the mobile communication device is associated with the first user; and
sending a notification via the password internet site to the second user about resetting the network password.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein verifying the support relationship comprises matching the first user to the designated technical point-of-contact.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the support relationship is that the second user is a manager of the first user.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the support relationship is that the second user is a peer of a manager of the first user.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the request comprises a network identity of the first user.
20. The method of claim 19 , wherein the network identity is an active directory (AD) identity of the first user.