Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and a method of providing access to at least one password protected device (D1-D5) via a password management system (100). The password management system (100) comprises first and second password management servers (200), each comprising a memory for storing an active password and a reserve password. The first and second password management servers (200) communicate the active and reserve passwords via a communication link (220). Either one of the first and second password management servers (200) requests access to the password protected device using the active password stored in the memory, and if the active password does not provide access, requests access using the reserve password.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system and a method of providing access to at least one password protected device (D1-D5) via a password management system (100). The password management system (100) comprises first and second password management servers (200), each comprising a memory for storing an active password and a reserve password. The first and second password management servers (200) communicate the active and reserve passwords via a communication link (220). Either one of the first and second password management servers (200) requests access to the password protected device using the active password stored in the memory, and if the active password does not provide access, requests access using the reserve password.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing controlled access to a plurality of devices in a computer network (104), wherein the plurality of devices are accessible by users external to the computer network (102) by logging in to a privileged account, to which access is controlled by an authentication server (106); the apparatus comprises a receiver configured to receive user password data from a user requesting access to the privileged account via a device, a password determiner configured to determine account password data based on user password data, and to control a transmitter to transmit to the device account password data for allowing the user to access the privileged account, the receiver also configured to receive a request from the device to update account password data, and a password manager configured to update account password data and store updated account password data associated with the privileged account.

Abstract: An apparatus for use as a single sign on entity (100) for controlling access to one or more devices (104a-d) in a computer network, the devices accessible with a device access password; the apparatus comprises a password generator configured to generate current and future device access passwords, a back-up controller configured to store a back-up comprising the current and future device access passwords at the time of the back-up in a memory, a password changer configured to change the current device password to one of the future device access passwords and to control a transmitter to transmit data implementing the change to the device, wherein the back-up controller is configured to restore the device access password from the backed-up future device access passwords, losing the current device access password.