The present invention allows for remotely and securely configuring
settings for targeted devices within a network with multiple
security-trust boundaries. Configuration information is encoded in
messages that are digitally signed to ensure the integrity of the
configuration information and sent in accordance with a standard
messaging transport protocol. By utilizing an already existing port of
the standard messaging transport protocol, e.g., SMTP, the number of open
ports for configuration purposes is minimized. Further, example
embodiments take advantage of hidden fields, i.e., machine readable
fields that contain metadata that by default are not presented at a
client user interface, for encoding the configuration or command/control
information within the messages. The present invention further provides
for a central console module that can manage and report on the status of
the configuration settings for a plurality of targeted devices that an
authorized user or system administrator has attempted to remotely
configure.