Abstract: This invention relates to an asset management system for deterring the misappropriation or unauthorized movement or use of office equipment, such as copiers and facsimile machines, which are connected to a monitoring network. All of the office devices on the network are linked via telephone lines to remotely located monitoring and security systems. For each device, the remote monitoring system processes its status information, and the remote security system verifies whether it is not in its authorized location by utilizing the automatic number identification (ANI) information provided by the public telephone switching system. If the ANI for an incoming call does not match a preauthorized phone number for the office device making the call, that device may be remotely disabled. The office device may also be disabled automatically for any other reason, including a power loss, a disconnection, a failure to pay for services, or at a customer's request.