Patent ID: 8189572

Claim:
A network device comprising: a memory that stores programmable communications parameters and a decryption key; a module that: generates a request, including information based on an identifier associated with the device, for transmission to a first server; receives an encrypted configuration profile from the first server; and transmits, in response to receiving the encrypted configuration profile, information to a second server to initiate registration of the device; and an interface that receives, upon registration of the device, a request to refresh or reset the device, where the module further: determines, upon receiving the request to refresh or reset the device, whether the decryption key should be refreshed or preserved while the programmable communications parameters are refreshed or reset to a default state; preserves, in response to determining that the decryption key should be preserves, the decryption key while the programmable communications parameters are refreshed or reset to the default state; and refreshes, in response to determining that the decryption key should not be preserved, the decryption key by restoring a default decryption key or acquiring a new decryption key and returning the programmable communications parameters to the default state.