1. A method for responding to a network event by a computing device, the method comprising: re-instantiating a firmware environment that includes one or more firmware functions available at pre-boot time, when transitioning the computing device from a first higher power consumption state to a second lower power consumption state; receiving a network event by the firmware environment while the computing device is in the second lower power consumption state; determining by the firmware environment, independent of an operating system (OS) of the computing device, while remaining in the second lower power consumption state, whether the network event can be handled without returning the entire computing device to the first higher power consumption state; and causing the network event to be handled independent of the OS and without returning the entire computing device to the first higher power consumption state, by the firmware environment, if the firmware environment has determined that the network event can be so handled.