A system, protocol and related methods for providing secure manageability are generally described. In this regard, a communication protocol is introduced comprising an authentication protocol, responsive to an initialization event in a host device, to authenticate a remote device and establish an initial anti-replay value, and a secure communication protocol, selectively invoked upon authentication of the remote device, to facilitate subsequent communications between at least the host device and the authenticated remote device utilizing the initial anti-replay value in at least a first of said subsequent communications.