Examples are disclosed that facilitate connecting in a secure and efficient manner a mobile device to networked-enabled devices located in a premises. The security of the networked-enabled, connected devices in the premises may be maintained by use of a gateway device situated behind a home router. Through the home router, the gateway device maintains a persistent connection with a network component of a service provider. When an authorized application executing on a mobile device attempts to connect with the gateway device to communicate with the respective customer connected devices, the device control application is connected to a pre-established communication port to allow direct communication between the device control application and the respective customer connected device. A service provider's network component in some examples maintains the pre-established connection for the duration of the session in which the customer connected device is to be controlled via a mobile device, or longer.