Token-based authentication using middle tier

An intermediary system that facilitates a connection request from a client to a server. The intermediary system may participate in either or both of a token creation phase and a server connection phase. If participating in the token creation phase, the intermediary system generates a token that may later be used by the client during a server connection phase. The token includes a session identifier and is returned to the client. If participating in the server connection phase, the intermediary receives the token, extracts the session identifier from the token, and compares against the session identifier for the session in which the token was created. If the session identifiers match, then the intermediary connects to the server to complete the connection request.