Embodiments of a device authorization system authorize a connection device to be communicatively coupled to a processing system. One embodiment comprises a communication system interface configured to receive authorization from a network administrator device for a processing system to communicatively couple to a connection device; a card detector to detect the presence of the connection device when coupled to the processing system; and a card power switch configured to receive an authorization signal when the processing system is authorized to communicatively couple to the connection device, and configured to supply power to the connection device only when the authorization signal is present and when the card detector detects the presence of the connection device.