Off-host authentication system

An information handling system (IHS), comprising:

• an IHS host processing system;
• a network controller;
• and
• an off-host processing system that is coupled to the IHS host processing system and the network controller, wherein the off-host processing system is configured to:
• provide an encrypted primary authentication item to an authentication IHS through the network controller;
• receive an encrypted secondary authentication token from the authentication IHS through the network controller;
• decrypt the encrypted secondary authentication token to produce a decrypted secondary authentication token and use the decrypted secondary authentication token to retrieve a tertiary authentication token;
• and
• provide the tertiary authentication token to the IHS host processing system.

A method for providing off-host authentication, comprising:

• providing, by an off-host processing system, an encrypted primary authentication item to an authentication IHS through a network;
• receiving, by the off-host processing system, an encrypted secondary authentication token from the authentication IHS through the network;
• decrypting, by the off-host processing system, the encrypted secondary authentication token to produce a decrypted secondary authentication token and using the decrypted secondary authentication token to retrieve a tertiary authentication token;
• and
• providing, by the off-host processing system, the tertiary authentication token to a host processing system.