Remote Execution of Script

I have a Windows 2003 (Standard) backup server running ARCserve 11.1. One of the server to be backup by the backup server is a Windows 2003 (Enterprise) server running DB2 database.

Does anyone knows how to have the backup server instructs the other server running DB2 database to execute a DB2 shutdown/startup script before and after the backup?

I have explored RCMD.exe (Windows Remote Command) and was told that it is not secure. Someone suggested that the other alternative would be SSH-2 (Secure Shell).

I have visited many SSH-2 related website and I am still confused and unsure what is the SSH-2 equivalent of the Windows RCMD.exe command.

Therefore, I would very much appreciate it if someone could point to me the specific capability of SSH-2 that is equivalent to RCMD.exe. On top of that, I hope someone could also recommend a SSH-2 freeware that would meet the requirement that I mentioned.

Thanks you.