A registration and authentication scheme that may be used in conjunction with a computer-based system for monitoring other computer systems is disclosed. A monitored relay transmits a unique identifier to a server in the monitoring system. The server generates a random number pair, ensures the random number pair is unique, and associates the unique relay identifier with the random number pair to form an unbound key, which is registered in a database associated with the server. The unbound key is encrypted and made available to the relay. Subsequently, when the relay is instantiated it transmits the contents of the unbound key file to the monitoring system. The monitoring system decrypts the unbound key file and searches associated databases to determine whether the relay is registered and authenticates the relay.