Patent ID: 8732789

Claim:
A method for providing a portable security environment, comprising: enabling a connection between a client end and a policy device by software stored on a portable secure device that is insertable into said client end while said client end remains powered on; cooperating with said software to authenticate the identity of said client end according to a status of said connection, wherein said software is executable to cooperate with said policy device to authenticate said identity at said policy device in response to said connection having a successful status, and wherein said software is executable to cooperate with said client end to authenticate said identity at said client end in response to said connection having an unsuccessful status; checking a security environment of said client end by said policy device according to a result of said authenticating said identity; generating a dynamic client policy for said client end according to a result of said checking, wherein said portable secure device is configured to provide default functions to said client end in response to said identity being authenticated at said client end; and wherein said enabling, cooperating, checking, and generating are all performed automatically in response to insertion of said portable secure device into said client end.