Page 17 - Realcomm13-Final-LR

systems, property amenities, facility systems—the fabric needs to pipeline. Of course, commissioning the IT infrastructure of our
support an enterprise approach to security. And we actually have new development projects continues: projects underway include
done quite a bit in servicing all three: an enterprise approach to Salesforce Tower in San Francisco and the Hub on Causeway
security and securing our network around any end-point, whether (the old Boston Garden site) in Boston. Coming online in 2016,
it be a camera at an end of a cable, or a laptop at an end of a cable, 888 Boylston at the Prudential Center in Boston integrates a fiber
or telephone at an end of a cable, or a WiFi access point at the end plant to support connectivity for all systems in the building.
of a cable. All that is
done with a holistic
approach to security.

What will your focus
be in 2017?
I recently did a lead-
ership event with my
group where I talked
about four IT dynam-
ics that we’re facing.
The first would be
SaaS and the Cloud:
the cloud enabled
enterprise. We’re
moving to cloud
storage, we’re doing
an assessment of our
entire technology
stack and where that
roadmap leads. If you look at every decision we’ve made in the Future Technology Trends
last three years, almost all of them are SaaS solutions. We’ve got I think there are probably several aspects to this. One, the com-
a number of initiatives to continue to secure our network and pany as a whole is more engaged in the impact of technology
drive IT discipline into facilities. That requires some new skillsets on the use of space; not that this is a new conversation. I think
around data and security integrations, including working the potential impact of current and unknown disruptive technol-
with authentication and credentials. That’s one dynamic that ogies like driverless cars, machine learning and blockchain is a
challenges us—you are obviously working with more outside conversation across all sectors: industrial, residential, retail, and of-
groups to do this integration. Because you’re not fully in control fice. Engagement in those conversations is much more involved
of everything, it’s all about influencing, collaborating and part- now than three or five years ago, given the level of continued
nering with others—a lot of blocking and tackling at times. technology investment.
The second one is cyber security. Again, one theme is Secondly, the continued velocity of technology investment
bringing IT discipline into the practices of running our facilities continues to offer new opportunities. Startups are working hard
systems. Most everything is moving to IP connectivity. We now on large as well as niche use cases. The challenge is aligning with
have facility systems that are running in the cloud, controlling solutions that benefit the organization as a whole—scaling for
services that are actually in the cloud, which leads us back to maximum benefit. When we choose a solution, we are usually
the security aspects. ‘all in’, partnering with and helping in R&D decisions, lending our
The third one is really about empowered end users. Every intellectual capital and then aiding in market adoption—a model
organization is experiencing changing demographics across that has been successful for us over the years.
its workforce who introduce different expectations. We have to Lastly, with the increased pace of transitions, e.g., cloud/mobile
enable and empower that. You have to find a balance between and innovations that facilitate the occupant experience or our
running an enterprise with the appropriate level of controls ver- internal business processes, the industry needs to continue to
sus flexibility for employees. We have several projects around this, balance security concerns. And it is a bit of a balancing act. My
providing tool sets, training, enabling people to do their work job is continually responding to new demands, which makes it
better. For example, a deployment of Skype for Business across exciting to come to work every day.
the entire company. We’re focusing on discrete teams like our
development group, making sure they have the right toolsets. Boston Properties, Inc. a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment
The fourth is continued process efficiencies extending and le- trust (REIT), is one of the largest owners, managers, and developers of first-class
veraging our application stack; something I’ve already discussed. office properties in the United States, with significant presence in five markets:
As a company, we have had an active construction delivery Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC.

Realcomm 15