A method that restricts a user's access to critical data on a client and network by requiring renewal of a client's lease for accessing the network by an administrative utility of the network during each login by a user to the client. A user/client logon policy is created for each user and/or each client and stored at the lease server. The lease server executes a utility that utilizes the policies to control whether a user is allowed to access a particular client on the network. User access to the client and ultimately the network is only provided when the lease term is renewed for the client (and user). When a lease term is not renewed/extended, the user is blocked from accessing the client system.