A method to authenticate a data access request begins by a data accessing module sending the data access request to a data storage module and continues with the data storage module sending an authentication request to an authenticating module. The method continues with the authenticating module outputting a verification request destined for the data accessing module, where the verification request includes a verification code that is generated based on the authentication request. The method continues with the data accessing module outputting a verification response that includes a modified verification code that is generated based on the verification code and a credential. The method continues with the authenticating module outputting an authentication response to the data storage module, where the authentication response is generated based on the verification response, and continues with the data storage module facilitating the data access request when the authentication response is favorable.