A
resource management client apparatus (
client, 102) comprises an interface to a
wide area network (WAN, 106) facilitating connection to a
resource management server (
server, 104), and at least one communications interface (116, 118) to communicate with a plurality of associated resource
monitoring and control devices (devices, 120, 122). A secure key interface (128) to receive an
electronic access device (130) that securely stores information including at least a
unique identifier,
server connection data, and one or more
encryption keys for encrypting information transmitted between the
client (102) and the server (104). The client (102) establishes a connection to the server (104) via the WAN (106), using the server connection data stored in the
electronic access device (130), receives status messages from the devices (120, 122), processes received status messages, and encrypts and transmits corresponding status information of the devices (120, 122) to the server (104) via the WAN (106). It receives and decrypts encrypted resource control information from the server (104) via the WAN (106). Furthermore, it processes received resource control information and transmits corresponding control messages to the devices (120, 122).