Embodiments of the invention are directed generally to a decentralization of security provisions, improved logging of textual and/or graphical data in the network management system, and/or the use of low-value keyboard, mouse, and compressed video data between the network management system and the managed network. An embodiment of the invention includes: a customer appliance coupled to the management server via a first link; and an interface to a managed device coupled to the customer appliance, the first link configured to transmit input/output (I/O) command signals from the management server to the customer appliance, the first link further configured to transmit compressed computer video screen information from the customer appliance to the management server.