Abstract: A secure password-based single sign-on process enables a user to access a web application without the authorization credentials transmitted over a distributed computing network. A network directory service system utilizes an identity management system, outside of the client device, to execute a sign-on to a web-based resource in a Hyper-V container. The browser cookie from the sign-on process is returned to the client device in a sign-on script that the client-side browser uses to transition to the web portal or home page of the target web-based resource.