A method and apparatus for providing single-step logon access for a subscriber to a differentiated computer network having more than one separate access area. In a method for single-step logon a network gateway interface grants a subscriber access to both one or more public network domains, such as the Internet, and one or more private domains, such as community of interest domains or intra-network domains, without requiring the subscriber to launch a separate logon application. Once the subscriber has completed a single step logon to the network interface, the service provider is able to provide the subscriber with simultaneous secure channel access to both public areas and secured private areas. A network gateway interface provides the capability to authenticate the subscriber, provide the subscriber with an IP address and negotiate a point to point protocol session with the subscriber's host, thereby eliminating the need to have the subscriber logon for public area access and then logon for private area access.