Technology is disclosed for securely persisting a network resource identifier, such as a URL, that addresses a network resource, such as a portal. The network resource identifier is persisted from one network resource to another. A system accessed through the portal receives requests for accessing network resources associated with the system's applications and resources. In one example, the system provides the applications and resources via web pages. The system generates a link selector, based on information persisted in the requests. Selection of the link selector immediately brings a system user to the portal. Each request includes a parameter that corresponds to the network resource identifier for the portal. The system employs this parameter to obtain the information necessary to generate the link selector, such as an image and mouse-over text. The system includes a parameter in outgoing requests that calls for persisting the network resource identifier for the portal. The system also determines whether the network resource identifier is valid for persisting--preventing system users from being sent to a fraudulent copy of the portal.