Methods, systems, and computer program products for providing authentication in a computer environment

A host system in communication with a network, the host system comprising:

• a J2EE based application server hosting one or more applications and including an input for receiving a request for a web service from a client, wherein the request includes a Kerberos security token and a Kerberos service ticket, and each application has its own Kerberos identity;
• and
• computer instructions for:
• verifying that the client has access to the web service using the Kerberos security token and Kerberos service ticket as input to the verifying;
• and
• providing the client a connection to the web service if the verifying results in a determination that the client has access to the web service.

A computer program product for providing authentication in a computer environment, the computer program product comprising a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising:

• receiving a request for a web service from a client, wherein the request is received at a J2EE based application server hosting one or more applications, the request includes a Kerberos security token and a Kerberos service ticket, and each application has its own Kerberos identity;
• verifying that the client has access to the web service using the Kerberos security token and Kerberos service ticket as input to the verifying;
• and
• providing the client a connection to the web service if the verifying results in a determination that the client has access to the web service.