A computer system for authenticating user access to at least one computer application of a plurality of computer applications, said computer system comprising a memory device and a processor, said computer system programmed to: identify a security level from a plurality of security levels for each computer application within the plurality of computer applications, wherein the plurality of security levels include at least a first-tier security level and a second-tier security level, wherein the second-tier security level requires a user to enter additional authentication information as compared to the first-tier security level, wherein a first computer application within the plurality of computer applications is configured to require the first-tier security level; create a user account for the user within the memory device, wherein creating the user account includes configuring the user account with the first-tier security level by prompting the user to provide first identifying information associated with the uer, wherein the first identifying information is previously unknown to the computer system; restrict the first computer application from requiring a password to enable access to the first computer application; receive a user input from the user to access a second computer application that is configured to require the second-tier security level to enable access thereto; compare the security level of the user account with the security level required to access the second computer application; determine that the user account has a lower-tier security level than the security level required to access the second computer application and therefore has not been granted the second-tier security level; in response to determining that the user account has not been granted the second-tier security level, prompt the user to enter the additional authentication information that is previously not associated with the user account; and in response to receiving the additional authentication information, promote the user account to the second-tier security level, including associating the additional authentication information with the user account. identify a security level from a plurality of security levels for each computer application within the plurality of computer applications, wherein the plurality of security levels include at least a first-tier security level and a second-tier security level, wherein the second-tier security level requires a user to enter additional authentication information as compared to the first-tier security level, wherein a first computer application within the plurality of computer applications is configured to require the first-tier security level; create a user account for the user within the memory device, wherein creating the user account includes configuring the user account with the first-tier security level by prompting the user to provide first identifying information associated with the uer, wherein the first identifying information is previously unknown to the computer system; restrict the first computer application from requiring a password to enable access to the first computer application; receive a user input from the user to access a second computer application that is configured to require the second-tier security level to enable access thereto; compare the security level of the user account with the security level required to access the second computer application; determine that the user account has a lower-tier security level than the security level required to access the second computer application and therefore has not been granted the second-tier security level; in response to determining that the user account has not been granted the second-tier security level, prompt the user to enter the additional authentication information that is previously not associated with the user account; and in response to receiving the additional authentication information, promote the user account to the second-tier security level, including associating the additional authentication information with the user account.