Methods and systems for deploying management tunnels between managed and managing devices are provided. According to one embodiment, the use of PKI-authenticated serial numbers within network devices manufactured by a particular manufacturer enables one-step provisioning of one or more managed devices. A managed device is provisioned with the serial number of a management device manufactured by the particular manufacturer. When the managed device is installed within a network, the management device is located by the managed device with the assistance of a locator server and the managed device initiates establishment of an encrypted management tunnel with the management device. Prior to allowing the management device to use the management tunnel to perform management functionality in relation to the managed device, credentials of the management device are verified by the managed device by comparing the PKI-authenticated unique identifier of the management device to that which is stored within the managed device.