A first device is automatically authorized to participate in a secure network by associating the first device with network access information in a machine-accessible format that can serve as a basis for the authorization. The network access information may be presented to a machine code reader in communication with a second device participating in the secure network. Upon the network access information being presented to the reader, the second device authorizes the first device associated with the identifier to participate in the secure network. Alternatively, the network access information may be registered with an authorization database in which the network access information is associated with a network identifier or an identifier representing a user associated with the secure network. The second device is signaled, by means of a signal button or comparable act, to access the authorization database to verify the first device is authorized to participate in the network.