A system and method for providing Web-based remote security application client administration in a distributed computing environment is described. A self-extracting configuration file is stored. The self-extracting configuration file contains an executable configuration file that is self-extractable on a target client into an administered security application. An executable control is embedded within an active administration Web page. The executable control is triggered upon each request for the active Web page and causes dynamic Web content to be generated therefrom. A Web portal including the active administration Web page is exported to a browser application independent of a specific operating environment. The executable control is interpreted to facilitate copying of the self-extracting configuration file to the target client.