Patent ID: 8898750

Claim:
A method, comprising: upon detecting a portable device within a local network, obtaining information from the portable device, wherein the information identifies a remote network and allows authorized access to the remote network; transmitting, from the local network, to a network host device located within the remote network, a first authentication credential based on the obtained information from the portable device, wherein the network host device is configured to authenticate the portable device based on the first authentication credential; authenticating the network host device, based on a second authentication credential communicatively corresponding to the network host device; upon successfully authenticating the network host device, and further upon the successful authentication of the portable device by the network host device, establishing, from the local network, a secure network connection with the network host device located within the remote network, based on the obtained information from the portable device, whereby the established secure network connection enables a computing device within the local network and that is distinct from the portable device, to access at least one of one or more devices and one or more services connected to the remote network via the established secure network connection so long as the portable device remains within the local network; and responsive to detecting that the portable device is no longer present within the local network, terminating the secure network connection established with the network host device, such that the computing device can no longer access the remote network devices and services.