1. A method comprises: sending, by a data accessing module of a dispersed storage network (DSN), a data access request to a data storage module of the DSN; sending, by the data storage module, an authentication request to an authenticating module of the DSN, wherein the authentication request includes at least a portion of the data access request; outputting, by the authenticating module, a verification request destined for the data accessing module, wherein the verification request includes a verification code that is generated based on the authentication request; outputting, by the data accessing module, a verification response destined for the authenticating module, wherein the verification response includes a modified verification code that is generated based on the verification code and a credential; outputting, by the authenticating module, an authentication response to the data storage module, wherein the authentication response is generated based on the verification response; and facilitating, by the data storage module, the data access request when the authentication response is favorable.