diff --git a/src/helpers/index.js b/src/helpers/index.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3fa8e1d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helpers/index.js
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+export function getAuthKeyFromProperties(props) {
+    var authKey;
+
+  if (props.sessionIdentifier && props.sessionIdentifier.length > 0) {
+    authKey = props.sessionIdentifier;
+  } else if (props.username && props.username.length > 0) {
+    authKey = props.username;
+  } else {
+    throw new Error('_sessionIdentifier or username properties not found (check query params)');
+  }
+  return authKey
+}