A method and system for using a rendezvous server to make connections to fire alarm panels. In one aspect, an external computer is used to communicate with an authentication computer in a secure overlay network in order for the external computer to establish a secure connection with the secure overlay network and to communicate with a rendezvous server in order for the external computer to, in turn, communicate with the target alarm panels in the secure overlay network. In another aspect, the rendezvous server receives a communication from the electronic device, with the communication indicative of the electronic device seeking to communicate with only devices in the secure overlay network, in response to the communication, accesses information to communicate with the target fire alarm panels and uses the accessed information in order for the electronic device to communicate with the target fire alarm panels.