The present disclosure relates to processing operations configured to efficiently enable a client and a server to establish secure communication upon initial connection between the client and the server. Upon initial connection to with the server, the client provides an encrypted token which serves as both proof of authentication/identity and provides, in the encrypted token, an encryption key that the server can utilize to initiate secure communication with the client. The server is able to trust the encrypted token and the encryption key because the encrypted token is signed and encrypted by an authentication service that has a trusted relationship with the server and because the authentication service has pre-shared decryption and signature verification keys with the server. The server utilizes the encrypted key to secure communications with the client without requiring additional processing to lookup client identity or any further intervention from the authentication service.