The present invention provides a computer implemented method, apparatus, and data processing system for associating a private part of a keystore of a user with a user authentication process in an encrypting file system. A secure shell daemon server establishes the user authentication process with a secure shell client such that the user authentication process is associated with a user and the user is authenticated. The secure shell daemon server obtains an acknowledgment from the secure shell client. The secure shell daemon server accesses a user public key of the user from the keystore of the user, responsive to receiving the acknowledgment. The secure shell daemon obtains a public secure shell cookie associated with the user from the keystore of the user. The public secure shell cookie is an access key in encrypted form. The access key is based on the user's public key to form the public secure shell cookie. The secure shell daemon server obtains the access key from the secure shell client. The private part of the keystore is associated with the user authentication process, wherein the private part is accessed based on the access key.