Patent ID: 8438623

Claim:
A system which performs at least one administrative security function which facilitates alternative access to system resources and services comprising: at least one credential associated with a user; a local client in processing communications with an authenticating computer system including; one or more functionally connected user input devices; a user interface means for handling input from and output to said user; software that generates and sends an administrative access request to said authenticating computer system to perform at least one administrative security function, wherein said administrative access request includes said at least one credential; software that mediates said at least one administrative security function between said authenticating computer system, said client and said user; and said authenticating computer system including; means responsive to said administrative access request for performing said at least one administrative security function, wherein said at least one administrative security function includes means for authenticating said user to said authenticating computer system using said at least one credential and means for allowing access to system resources and services, without requiring said user to log on to an operating environment associated with said local client.