NFC-enhanced firmware security

An apparatus, comprising:

• at least one processor;
• and
• a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon that are executable by the processor and which, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to
• receive a first request to access a near field communication (NFC)-equipped server computer,
• in response to receiving the first request, transmit an authorization request from the apparatus to an authorization server, the authorization request comprising a second request to access the NFC-equipped server computer,
• receive from the authorization server in response to the second request a login key for use in accessing the NFC-equipped server computer, wherein the login key indicates access rights and originates from the authorization server, and
• provide the login key to the NFC-equipped server computer via NFC, whereby the NFC-equipped server computer is configured to determine, using the login key, the access rights to the NFC-equipped server computer.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

• receive a first request to access a near field communication (NFC)-equipped server computer;
• in response to receiving the first request, transmit an authorization request to an authorization server, the authorization request comprising a second request to access the NFC-equipped server computer, wherein the authorization server is separate from the NFC-equipped server computer;
• receive from the authorization server in response to the second request a login key for use in accessing the NFC-equipped server computer, wherein the login key indicates access rights and originates from the authorization server;
• and
• provide the login key from the apparatus to the NFC-equipped server computer via NFC.