Methods, computer-readable storage medium, and systems described herein facilitate enabling access to a virtual desktop of a host computing device. An authentication system receives one of an authentication token and a reference to the authentication token, wherein the authentication token is indicative of whether a user successfully logged in to an authentication portal using a client computing device. The authentication system generates a private key, a digital certificate, and a personal identification number (PIN) for the user in response to receiving the one of the authentication token and the reference to the authentication token. The private key, the digital certificate, and the PIN are stored in a virtual smartcard, and the client computing device is authorized to log into a virtual desktop using the virtual smartcard.