Patent ID: 8918862

Claim:
A method comprising: initiating a logon by providing characterizing data of a username and a first password, including Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) in communication with the logon requesting a storage identifier associated with a storage device and the characterizing data; requesting by the BIOS a first authentication, including authentication of the storage media identifier with the username and the first password received from a first entity; receiving a second password from a second entity following a passing of the first authentication, wherein the second password is associated with the storage device, and wherein the second entity is separate from the first entity; storing the second password in a record remotely located from the storage device and the BIOS, wherein the record pertaining to the username includes the storage media identifier associated with the second password; requesting by the BIOS a second authentication, including authentication by the BIOS of the second password associated with the storage device; and validating by the storage device the second authentication, including granting access to the storage device in response to passing the second authentication of the second password.