A communications system provides voice or data services in a plurality of geographically diverse sites. A plurality of localized devices provide portions of voice or data services at each site. The localized devices are managed with a console system. The console system coordinates management activities for the plurality of localized devices. A protectable communications protocol is utilized for communications between the console system and the plurality of localized devices. The console system communicates with an individual device of the plurality of localized devices via the protectable communications protocol to provide software distribution instructions to the individual device. The software distribution instructions provide the individual device with information sufficient to establish a direct link with a software distribution server in order to receive software distribution data without user intervention.