def increment_lockout_counter(cls, user):
        """
        Ticks the failed attempt counter
        """
        record, _ = LoginFailures.objects.get_or_create(user=user)
        record.failure_count = record.failure_count + 1
        max_failures_allowed = settings.MAX_FAILED_LOGIN_ATTEMPTS_ALLOWED

        # did we go over the limit in attempts
        if record.failure_count >= max_failures_allowed:
            # yes, then store when this account is locked out until
            lockout_period_secs = settings.MAX_FAILED_LOGIN_ATTEMPTS_LOCKOUT_PERIOD_SECS
            record.lockout_until = datetime.now(UTC) + timedelta(seconds=lockout_period_secs)

        record.save()