What's a security key?
A small key you plug into your computer. It works like a house key for your patients' records: without it, nobody at your practice can open them, and neither can a stranger with your password. AlpineForm keeps one offline key, used only to recover a form for your practice.
It needs no batteries, no app and no account of its own. YubiKey is the best-known make.
How you use it
- Plug it into your computer. Use Chrome, Edge or Firefox; Safari and iPhones can't unlock records yet.
- Touch the gold pad when it blinks.
- Type its PIN. You choose the PIN the first time you use the key.
That's it. You do this each time you unlock Records, and it locks itself after 15 minutes of not being used.
Why two?
Keep one on your key ring and one somewhere safe at the practice. If one is lost, the other still opens your records, and you remove the lost one in a minute. Your recovery code is the last resort if both are lost.
Passkey or security key?
A passkey signs you in with your fingerprint, face or phone. A security key is the separate, physical key that opens records. It can sign you in too. Most people use both.
Which to buy
Each person who opens records needs their own. Any of these works with AlpineForm.
- Lower cost Security Key NFC by Yubico Everything AlpineForm needs. USB-A or USB-C.
- Most computers YubiKey 5 NFC USB-A, the larger rectangular port.
- Newer laptops YubiKey 5C NFC USB-C, the small oval port on recent Macs and PCs.