Patent attributes
A method for changing a security credential, such as a password, for secure user authentication with respect to user access to an application is provided. The method includes: receiving, from a vault that is configured to periodically generate and change a credential for accessing the application, a current credential and a first future credential that is designated as a next credential; transmitting, to a user that has access to the vault, the current credential; when a first interval that corresponds to a periodicity of a changing of the credential elapses, receiving, from the vault, a message indicating that the current credential has expired and that the next credential has been redesignated as the current credential, and providing a newly designated next credential, and transmitting, to the user, a message indicating that the previous current credential has expired and providing the redesignated current credential.