Abstract: A system and method for securing software applications installed on a computer network is disclosed. An authorized user is provided a digital credential and loads a secure access client onto a computerized device that can be connected to the network. The secure access client communicates with a secure access server within the network to authenticate the user and determine which applications the user is allowed to access. When the user sends a communication intended for a secured application, the secure access client intercepts the communication and uses cryptographic keys from the digital credential to encrypt and digitally sign the communication. The secure access server has access to cryptographic keys corresponding to those on the digital credential and is able to decrypt the communication and verify the digital credential. The decrypted message is then sent to an application server hosting the secured application.