Providing authentication using previously-validated authentication credentials

A method for providing authentication using previously-validated authentication credentials, the method comprising:

• receiving a request, from a user, to access a framework application, wherein access to the framework application requires a primary level of user authentication comprising one of a plurality of authentication types that is selectable by the user, wherein the plurality of authentication types comprises at least one of a hard authentication, a soft authentication, and a zero authentication, wherein the hard authentication is a multi-factor verification requiring the user present at least two authentication credentials, wherein the soft authentication is at least a single-factor verification requiring the user to present at least one authentication credential, wherein zero authentication requires the user to present no authentication credentials;
• receiving a user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication, wherein the user selected authentication type is selected from at least one of a hard authentication, a soft authentication, and a zero authentication;
• requesting, from the user, one or more authentication credentials corresponding to the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication;
• receiving the one or more authentication credentials corresponding to the selected authentication type;
• validating the one or more authentication credentials, thereby resulting in a validation of the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication;
• creating, using the framework application, an authentication token corresponding to the user selected authentication type based at least partially on the validation of the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication, wherein the authentication token is accessible by at least one non-framework application;
• receiving a request, from the user, to access the at least one non-framework application;
• accessing the authentication token created by the framework application;
• and
• at least partially authenticating the at least one non-framework application using the authentication token created by the framework application such that the authentication of the at least one non-framework application is at least partially based on the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication,
• wherein authentication of the user selected authentication type of the primary level of authentication decreases the degree of confidence required for authenticating the one or more non-framework applications from at least a first degree of confidence to a second degree of confidence, and wherein the first degree of confidence is stronger than the second degree of confidence.

A computer program product for providing authentication using previously-validated authentication credentials, the computer program product comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a set of codes for causing a computer to:
• receive a request, from a user, to access a framework application, wherein access to the framework application requires a primary level of user authentication comprising one of a plurality of authentication types that is selectable by the user, wherein the plurality of authentication types comprises at least one of a hard authentication, a soft authentication, and a zero authentication, wherein the hard authentication is a multi-factor verification requiring the user present at least two authentication credentials, wherein the soft authentication is at least a single factor verification requiring the user to present at least one authentication credential, wherein zero authentication requires the user to present no authentication credentials;
• receive a user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication, wherein the user selected authentication type is selected from at least one of a hard authentication, a soft authentication, and a zero authentication;
• request, from the user, one or more authentication credentials corresponding to the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication;
• receive the one or more authentication credentials from the user;
• validate the one or more authentication credentials, thereby resulting in a validation of the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication;
• create, using the framework application, an authentication token corresponding to the user selected authentication type based at least partially on the validation of the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication, wherein the authentication token is accessible by at least one non-framework application;
• receive a request, from the user, to access the at least one non-framework application;
• access the authentication token created by the framework application;
• and
• at least partially authenticate the at least one non-framework application using the authentication token created by the framework application such that the authentication of the at least one non-framework application is at least partially based on the user selected authentication type of the primary level of user authentication,
• wherein authentication of the user selected authentication type of the primary level of authentication decreases the degree of confidence required for authenticating the one or more non-framework applications from at least a first degree of confidence to a second degree of confidence, and wherein the first degree of confidence is stronger than the second degree of confidence.