Off-host authentication system

A user information handling system (IHS), comprising:

• a user IHS chassis;
• a first network controller that is housed in the user IHS chassis;
• an off-host processing system that is housed in the user IHS chassis and that is coupled to the first network controller, wherein the off-host processing system is configured to provide an encrypted authentication item to an authentication IHS over a network through the first network controller in response to validating a user;
• a second network controller that is housed in the user IHS chassis;
• a host processing system that is housed in the user IHS chassis and that is coupled to the second network controller, wherein the host processing system is configured to log a user into an operating system in response to receiving a user approval from a directory system that is sent by the directory system over the network in response to the encrypted authentication item sent by the off-host processor.

A method for providing off-host authentication, comprising:

• sending, by an off-host processing system, an encrypted authentication item through a network in response to validating a user;
• receiving, by an authentication IHS, the encrypted authentication item from the off-host processing system through the network and, in response, decrypting the encrypted authentication item to produce a decrypted authentication item, validating the decrypted authentication item, and sending an approval message through the network;
• receiving, by a directory system, the approval message through the network and, in response, sending a user approval through the network;
• and
• logging, by a host processing system, a user into the user IHS in response to receiving the user approval through the network.