A technician installs specialized software on a workstation.

A hardware token is a physical device that provides an additional layer of security for software authorization. Some specialized software may require a hardware token to be attached to the workstation in order to run. A hardware token may contain a cryptographic key, a password, or a one-time code that verifies the user’s identity or permission. Installing the software in safe mode, installing OS updates, and restarting the workstation after installation are not likely to resolve the issue of software authorization.