The security industry now using smartphones to aid in efforts to better manage and secure facilities

Admittedly, I am obsessed with possessing the latest and greatest technology. Aside from the unfortunate cost associated with this addiction comes a side effect in the form of a sense of entitlement. Simply stated, I want/deserve to control every business function of my life from a single device. I want/deserve this device to be with me 24 hours a day, 7days a week. Most importantly, I want/deserve this device to fit in my pocket. Lucky for me the smartphone was invented and apps have been (and continue to be) developed for just about anything imaginable. Like most technology based industries, the security industry has embraced the evolution of the smartphone. Manufacturers of both access control and video surveillance systems have spent a considerable amount of time and money developing apps. As these manufacturers look to gain a competitive edge it has become apparent that a feature rich mobile application is one way to do so. As a security integrator we at Idesco have always looked to provide our customer base with state-of-the-art, cost effective and secure solutions. Recently we have added "convenient" to this list. Most of our product offerings now are able to be controlled via your smartphone. You can view your CCTV system or run a report on who entered your facility at any given time. All of this with a few clicks on your PDA. Remotely controlling the security functions of your office or building is not a novel concept. Controlling these functions from your PDA is. As a manager of a customer service related business I find that my time is often better spent in the field with customers than it is in my office. As such, I need a device that allows for me to not only send and receive email but also allows me to oversee my staff remotely. Many readers of the New York Real Estate Journal are property owners and/or managers. Many of you are responsible for managing multiple facilities. Having come to the security industry from the commercial real estate industry I am certain there have been times where there is just not enough of you to go around. While you are onsite at one property it's not as if the other properties stop functioning; buildings in New York are, in essence, living things. New situations are constantly coming up and up until recently an effective owner/manager has had to travel extensively between properties under the control. Mobile applications allow for you to view and control multiple properties on the fly from a device that fits in your pocket. Additionally, the implementation of a system with mobile control capability is not as expensive as you might image. You can utilize your existing system components and by replacing head-end equipment for a nominal cost immediately realize the benefits of mobile applications. My smartphone has proved to be an asset that I find hard to live without. I encourage you to contact your security vendor to see how your phone can aid you in your efforts to better manage and secure the facilities which you own/manage. Scott Etess is general manager for IDESCO Corp., New York, N.Y.