Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, implementing
and using techniques for providing user credentials over a network to a
remote computer application. User credentials for the remote computer
application are stored in a central repository that is accessible through
the network. A request is sent to a service to perform, on behalf of a
user, a particular task involving the remote computer application. It is
determined whether the service has been granted permission to act on
behalf of the user with respect to the remote computer application. When
the service has permission to act on behalf of the user, the service is
used to retrieve the user's credentials for the remote computer
application from the central repository and to supply the retrieved user
credentials to the remote computer application.