Authorising access to Spektrix using approved IP addresses

Dave Carr
Dave Carr
  • Updated

This article is about Authorising and Restricting User Access to Spektrix based on a User’s IP address. We’ll guide you through how to add and remove a User’s IP address on your approved list, as well as how to grant temporary access.

TIP: You can only authorise access to Spektrix using IP addresses. It isn't possible to authorise access using a MAC address.

 

Why should I set Access Restrictions?

You might want to authorise or restrict access to Spektrix to only computers that are on your same network or physical location. You can do this by setting up an approved list of IP Addresses.

There may also be occasions where a user needs to log in from another computer, for example, while working from home. You can use Access Restrictions to grant or deny access to certain IP Addresses. This offers a layer of additional security to ensure that only authorised users can access your system.

Limiting user access to Spektrix based on the public IP address of a trusted enterprise network (a private internal company network to which only your staff can access) in combination with user credentials provides you with a two layer authentication process to access your Spektrix system.

TIP: You may also want to consider using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for any users working away from your physical location. A VPN provides an encrypted connection which can be configured to route your connection to the Internet, and therefore Spektrix, via your trusted network IP address. It can help to secure your users and reduce the risk of external threats.

Setting up a VPN is a detailed and technical process that should be done by your IT team.

 

Getting Started

Before you can restrict access to Spektrix based on I.P address, you’ll need to contact Support and provide at least one valid IP address for your network. 

You can specify as many IP addresses as required, for example, if you have multiple venues or if any of your teams are on a different network to your Box Office team.

TIP: You can add IPv4 or IPV6 addresses. IPv4 is recommended, as these addresses are less likely to change.

Once our Support Team has added your IP address(es), you’ll be able to add individual IP addresses. This lets anyone access your system from these additional IP addresses as well as the ones initially set.

TIP: You won’t be able to add individual IP addresses until our Support Team has added your first IP address.

 

How to add a user’s IP address to grant access

TIP: You’ll need the Settings Administrator Role on your User Account before you can add IP addresses. If you don’t have this, ask the Administrator in your organisation.

To add a User’s IP address to your approved list, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Control Panel button (in the bottom left corner of Spektrix):

     

  2. Click Settings:

     

  3. Click Configuration > Security from the top menu:

     

  4. Under the Authorised IP addresses menu, click New Authorised IP address:

     

  5. Enter the IP address and Description. Click Create Authorised IP Address:

     

  6. The IP address will be added to the approved list:

     

 

How to remove a User’s IP address to restrict access

You can remove a User’s IP address from your approved list. This means the user on that IP address won’t be able to log into Spektrix.

TIP: You’ll need the Settings Administrator Role on your User Account before you can add IP addresses. If you don’t have this, ask the Administrator in your organisation.

To remove a User’s IP address, follow these steps:

  1. Click the Control Panel button (in the bottom left corner of Spektrix):

     

  2. Click Settings:

     

  3. Click Configuration > Security from the top menu:

     

  4. Authorised IP addresses will be pre-selected. Look for the IP address you want to remove and click the bin/trash icon:

     

 

Changes to a User’s IP address in Spektrix

On occasion, IP addresses may change at short notice. For example, if a User’s main internet connection fails and a mobile data connection has to be used instead.

To handle this, each time a user accesses your system from an authorised IP address, their browser/device is also granted temporary access for one day. This lets them continue accessing the system from that browser/device even if their IP address changes.

Temporary access will be shown in the list of approved access requests as Automatically created from IP address:

To continue to access Spektrix, Users will need to do one of the following:

  • Switch back to their approved IP address before the end of the one day period to be able to access Spektrix.
  • Provide their new IP address to their Administrator and request this is added to your System.

Speak to your IT team if you have any questions about your IP address.

 

Granting Temporary Access to Spektrix

It’s possible to grant temporary access to Spektrix from an IP address that isn’t on your approved list.

When a User from an non-approved IP address tries to log into Spektrix, they’ll see a Request Authorisation screen:

The User will need to complete the following:

  • Location
  • Reason for temporary access
  • User Name
  • Password

Once the user has submitted their request, it will appear in the Security menu under the Pending Access Requests section:

 

All users with the Settings Administrator permission on their User Account will receive an email notification of the request.

 

Approving or rejecting temporary access requests

You can approve or reject requests by clicking Approve or Reject next to the request:

 

If you approve a request, you’ll be asked how many days you want to authorise access for (30 days maximum). Enter the number of days and click Approve:

 

After that period has expired, the User will need to request access again if they want to connect using the same IP address. Alternatively you can add their IP address to your approved list.

 

How to turn off Access Restrictions

If you decide you no longer want to restrict access to approved IP addresses only, contact our Support Team.

 

This article should give you the information you need to manage access to Spektrix using IP addresses. To learn more about Spektrix, visit the Navigate Spektrix section of the Support Centre.