A computer-readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions for authenticating in a computing environment where the computer-executable instructions instruct a processor to receive a token from a client by a first process, send the token to a second process, validate the token by the second process by sending the token to a policy server and receiving a validation of the token from the policy server, and selectively grant access to the computing resource based at least in part upon the validation of the token. The validation of the token indicates that the token is associated with a previous successful authentication of the client by the second process. A system also includes the first process and the second process.