In a first aspect, a first method of improving security of a network system is provided. The first method includes the steps of (1) providing a plurality of devices coupled via a network, wherein one or more of the devices are adapted to execute at least one client and one or more of the devices are adapted to execute at least one server in a client-server relationship; and (2) employing software, functionality of which is based on client-specific criteria or operational condition criteria of the system, to reduce a number of times a user of a client of the system must provide first authentication data to access data from one or more servers of the system. Numerous other aspects are provided.