Sign in with Microsoft vs Sign in with Salesforce

Curtis Massie
Curtis Massie
  • Updated

Sign in with Microsoft vs Sign in with Salesforce

Overview

Riva Insight provides two ways to sign in:

  • Sign in with Microsoft
  • Sign in with Salesforce

Both options allow you to access Salesforce data in Outlook, but they differ in how and when you are connected to Salesforce, and how the correct Salesforce environment is selected.

Login Profiles (First-Time Setup)

The first time you sign in, you may be asked to select a login profile.

This only happens if you have access to multiple Riva Cloud accounts.

  • Each login profile represents a specific Riva Cloud account and configuration (policy)
  • The selected policy determines which Salesforce connection is used and which Salesforce login domain you will connect to

Once you select a login profile:

  • Your choice is saved
  • You will not be prompted again in future sign-ins
  • This selection does not get reset

Sign in with Microsoft

How it works

When you choose Sign in with Microsoft, Riva uses the Microsoft account that is already signed in to Outlook.

  • You do not need to enter your username or password
  • You simply select the button to sign in

After you sign in:

  • You are signed in to Riva Insight
  • Riva identifies who you are
  • Riva uses your login profile and policy to determine the correct Salesforce connection and login domain

At this point, you are not yet connected to Salesforce.

When you use a feature that requires Salesforce:

  • You will be prompted to Connect to Salesforce
  • You will sign in to Salesforce at that time
  • Once connected, you can access Salesforce data

What this means for you

  • You can sign in quickly without entering credentials
  • You sign in to Riva Insight first, then connect to Salesforce when needed
  • Riva automatically directs you to the correct Salesforce environment based on your configuration

Summary

Sign in with Microsoft:

  • Uses your existing Outlook login (no credentials required)
  • Signs you into Riva Insight first
  • Uses your login profile and policy to determine the Salesforce connection
  • Requires a separate step to Connect to Salesforce
  • Does not require you to choose between Salesforce environments

Sign in with Salesforce

How it works

When you choose Sign in with Salesforce, you are taken directly to Salesforce to sign in.

During this process:

  • You must enter your Salesforce credentials
  • You are signing into both Riva Insight and Salesforce at the same time
  • Riva does not know who you are before this step
  • A default Salesforce connection is used first

If needed:

  • You can switch to a different Salesforce environment
  • This only applies if your organization uses multiple Salesforce environments
  • Your selection is remembered for future sign-ins

Your selected login profile still determines:

  • Which Riva Cloud account you are connected to
  • Which policy is used
  • Which Salesforce connection and login domain apply

What this means for you

  • You must manually enter your Salesforce login details
  • You are immediately connected to Salesforce after signing in
  • If multiple Salesforce environments exist, you may need to select the correct one the first time
  • The system will remember your choice for future sign-ins

Summary

Sign in with Salesforce:

  • Requires entering Salesforce credentials
  • Signs you into Riva Insight and connects you to Salesforce in one step
  • Starts with a default Salesforce connection
  • Only requires environment selection if multiple environments are available
  • Remembers your selection after the first sign-in

Key Differences

FeatureSign in with MicrosoftSign in with Salesforce
Requires entering credentialsNo (uses Outlook login)Yes (Salesforce login)
When Salesforce connection happensAfter sign-in (Connect to Salesforce)During sign-in (same step)
Signs into Riva InsightYesYes
Connects to Salesforce automaticallyNoYes
Automatically selects Salesforce connectionYes (via policy)No
Requires manual environment selectionNoOnly if multiple environments exist
Uses login profile and policyYesYes
Remembers previous selectionsNot neededYes

Common Questions

Why didn’t I have to enter my password when signing in with Microsoft?

  • Riva uses the Microsoft account already signed into Outlook
  • You only need to select Sign in with Microsoft to continue

Why am I asked to Connect to Salesforce after signing in with Microsoft?

  • This is expected
  • You are first signed in to Riva Insight
  • You then Connect to Salesforce when you need access to Salesforce data

Why didn’t I need to Connect to Salesforce separately?

  • If you used Sign in with Salesforce, both sign-in and connection happen in one step

Why did I land in the wrong Salesforce environment?

  • If your organization uses multiple Salesforce environments and you signed in with Salesforce, the system may have started with a default
  • You may need to switch to the correct one

Why do I have to select my Salesforce environment again?

  • If your Outlook cache has been cleared, your saved Salesforce selection is reset
  • The next time you sign in with Salesforce, the default will be used again
  • You may need to select your preferred environment again

Why was I asked to choose a login profile?

  • This happens if you have access to multiple Riva Cloud accounts
  • The login profile determines which configuration (policy) and Salesforce connection are used
  • Once selected, it is saved and will not be asked again

Which option should I use?

For most users, Sign in with Microsoft is recommended because:

  • It does not require entering credentials
  • It automatically uses the correct Salesforce connection based on your configuration
  • It reduces the chance of selecting the wrong system
  • It provides a simpler and more consistent experience