Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing automatic user access authentication of any user who is a member of a set of authorized users of a computer enterprise from any one of a plurality of geographically dispersed user workstations, onto one of a plurality of predetermined local security servers, through the use of a single logon. A person server resident on a local security server compares the user-provided identification information to entries contained in a local authentication database. If the person server finds a match, the user is granted access to the local security server. If the person server does not find a match, the user-provided authentication information is not valid for granting access to the local security server and the person server then searches a network database to determine whether the entered user name is known to the enterprise.

Abstract: A method and system for automatically authenticating a user to applications in a network environment. After an initial authentication procedure, the user's identity is mapped into a network credential which includes the user's role, and which is formed into a cookie. To gain access to an application requiring authentication, the cookie is provided to a script, and the information contained in the cookie is used to obtain authentication data required by the desired application.