System and method for delegating a user authentication process for a networked application to an authentication agent

A system for authenticating a user of a networked application, the system comprising:

• a first computer system running software associated with a client side of a networked application;
• a second computer system connected to the first computer system via a network, wherein the second computer system runs software associated with a server side of the detworked application;
• a third computer system connected to the second computer system via a network, wherein the third computer system runs an authentication agent;
• wherein the software associated with the server side of the networked application is operable to:
• receive authentication information for the user from the software, associated with the client side of the networked application;
• determine that the authentication agent running on the third computer system should be contacted in order to authenticate the user;
• pass the authentication information to the authentication agent;
• wherein the authentication agent is operable to:
• use the authentication information to attempt to authenticate the user;
• communicate the results of the authentication attempt to the software associated with the server side of the networked application;
• wherein the software associated with the server side of the networked application is operable to authorize the user to access the networked application if the authentication attempt was successful.