Provided are an apparatus, system, and method authenticating a system to access diagnostic interface in a storage device. The storage device includes a computer readable storage medium implemented to store data and a controller. The controller receives a request from the computer system to initiate a cryptographic nonce to access diagnostic interface in the storage device. The controller generates a nonce and returns to the computer system. Upon receiving an unlock request from the computer system to access the diagnostic interface including a signed nonce comprising at least the nonce encrypted with a private key by the authorized unlock system, the controller uses a public key that is a cryptographic pair with the private key to decrypt the signed nonce to determine whether to grant the computer system access to the diagnostic interface in the storage device.