US Patent 11341278 Management of securable computing resources

A system is provided and includes a securable resource, a locking element configured to assume a locked condition in which the securable resource is locked and an unlocked condition in which the securable resource is unlocked, a controller and a physical authentication interface. The controller is receptive of an instruction to authorize users to unlock the securable resource and configured to perform operating system (OS) level authentication of the users and OS level control of the locking element in accordance with the instruction to authorize users and the OS level authentication. The physical authentication interface is configured to enable or disable a capability of the controller to perform the OS level authentication.