A method and system that allows a host system application to securely
communicate with a legacy device is provided. A redirector software
module receives data that is destined for a host system serial COM port.
Data is secured and re-directed to a legacy device via a network port
instead of the serial COM port. Conversely, data destined for the host
system is provided to a device server via a server COM port by the legacy
serial device. The data can be encrypted and sent to the host system via
the network. The redirector software module decrypts the encrypted data
and presents it to the consumer application as if the data had arrived
via the local COM port.