Patent ID: 8813200

Claim:
A method of centralized password management, the method comprising: storing, in a single database of a centralized password repository of a password management system, a plurality of passwords associated with a plurality of applications for each of a plurality of users, wherein the centralized password repository stores all passwords for each of the plurality of users and each of the plurality of applications in the single database, and wherein the plurality of applications are running on a plurality of servers; receiving, at the centralized password repository of the password management system, a request from a user of the plurality of users for a password to allow access to an associated application; performing, by the password management system, a validation analysis for the user, the validation analysis comprising validation based at least in part on a combination of credentials for, the user, the combination of credentials including a user identification, an application request, and a media access control (MAC) address of a computer system originating the request, wherein the performing the validation analysis further comprises verifying that the media access control (MAC) address of the computer system originating the request corresponds to an authorized system; in response to verification of the combination of credentials for the user, transmitting, from the password management system, a response including the password configured to provide access to the associated application; receiving a password change request from one user of the plurality of users, wherein the password change request comprises a change to at least one password which provides access to the plurality of applications on the plurality of servers for the one user of the plurality of users; and changing the at least one password in a single instance stored in the centralized repository, wherein changing of the single instance of the at least one password applies to each of the plurality of applications on the plurality of servers for which the at least one password is used to provide the one user of the plurality of users access to the plurality of applications on the plurality of servers within a system environment, wherein the at least one password need only be changed in the centralized password repository and access to each of the plurality of servers is maintained.