In Cloud Computing, rather than licensing, installing, securing and supporting complex software products on premise, customers purchase subscriptions for systems that run “in the cloud.” The incident management cloud is a subset of the cloud that is reserved for the public and private security community and conforms to the Department of Defense Risk Management Framework a unique security and reliability requirements which is currently being supported by major technology vendors like Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services.
The cloud makes it easier, and less expensive for people and organizations to connect with one another to share and manage information. A single network connection opens the door to online collaboration and secure information exchange with hundreds of other agencies, service providers, employees and citizens. And it is accessible anywhere, anytime, on any connected device.
The term “cloud” comes from the flowchart symbol for a data communications network, but there is more to the cloud than just connecting to servers through a data network.
True cloud applications are called multi-tenant because a single instance of an application supports many users. Each user has their own individual configuration and control as though they were using a dedicated system. Large groups of users who adopt shared multi-tenant systems can dramatically reduce their total cost of ownership.
There are several types of cloud applications. Web applications, sometimes called thin client applications, run in web browsers and work like consumer Internet applications such as online retail or banking. Smart client applications require an installed program on a personal computer or mobile device, but still connect to servers and databases in the cloud and are updated automatically when new versions are available – the game Candy Crush is a good example of this kind of application which can be downloaded to a connect device through Apple’s iTunes or Google Play.
There are several varieties of clouds:
• Consumer applications run in the public cloud, which is essentially all of the public Internet.
• Private clouds are set up by large organizations, usually to save money by consolidating data centers.
• Hybrid clouds incorporate aspects of both; they include public Internet resources and also those that are tailored for and limited to a specific user community.
Many complex cloud applications such as SalesForce.com, are in reality, made up of many interconnected programs developed by SalesForce.com and their eco-system partners. This approach greatly increases the value of the SalesForce.com platform as it seamlessly facilitates highly secure data exchange and data sharing.
For example, OneNet’s data exchange functionality can query many interconnected information sources simultaneously, each of which interconnects many data sources or still more exchanges. To participate, an agency needs only a single connection to the cloud regardless of physical location.
The equivalent point-to-point network for one hundred agencies would require thousand individual connections creating huge system manageability issues.
The incident management cloud is a “pure-play” cloud optimized for the security community.
The incident management cloud
Each of the cloud’s many interconnected component parts contribute to the overall online environment:
• A secure platform for storing and accessing data tailored to the unique needs of the security community.
• Applications that are available anytime, anywhere using a variety of Internet connected devices.
• An inherently mobile solution that allows security personnel to stay connected to a fully extended incident Management network.
• An extremely cost-effective alternative to premise-based systems that can dramatically lower the Lifecycle Cost of Ownership (LCO) to help agencies meet the challenge of today’s tight budgets.
• A new and innovative method to better connect incident management professionals with the community they serve to improve overall effectiveness and facilitate the exchange of valuable information.
Customers use the same applications they are familiar with delivered in a different format. As before, they enable users to initiate, dispatch, track, report and close emergency responses. However, instead of being installed and maintained by the agency, these tools are maintained and securely operated in a modern incident management cloud, shared by many agencies, and accessed anytime, anywhere from a variety of Internet connected devices
These cloud solutions will continue to evolve and expand to include additional applications, services, and data sources as customer requirements evolve. The cloud provides a dynamic ecosystem that encourages innovation by providing well defined service interfaces that allow extension of the platform by 3rd parties, other vendors, and even customer agencies themselves.
Why Move to The Cloud? -- Unsurpassed Agency Collaboration, Data Sharing, and Interoperability
For a majority of agencies, the most important attributes of a, modern incident management cloud are the robust internal and external collaboration features. Our solution permits agencies of all sizes to share data seamlessly with users inside and outside of their jurisdictions, work shifts and even time zones. Agencies are able to optimize the flow of information that strengthens tactical decisions in emergency responses greatly improving situational awareness. Every agency benefit from each other’s best practices; creating almost a mentorship program amongst peer and security professionals. – this graphic might work.
Budget Sensitive Technology
As with cloud solutions in general agencies are able to “pay-as-they-go” paying only for the capacity they need. New users can also be added easily with no degradation in system performance. By leveraging the economies of scale of OneNet’s CJIS compliant data center operations on Microsoft’s Azure and Amazon’s Gov cloud, agencies are able to take advantage of a highly cost effective and scalable solution without compromising features or performance.
Rapid Deployment
Examples of incident management cloud solutions are available and fully operational today. New agencies are easily brought on to the platform without requiring time consuming hardware and software implementations and extensive user training. This has translated to much faster deployment times with some agencies coming online and fully operational in a matter of days or weeks instead of months or even years, as is often experienced with traditional on-premise solutions.
Minimal Infrastructure Requirements
As with all cloud-based solutions today, there are minimal required infrastructure support requirements beyond maintaining user stations. Typically, all that is required are workstations with an Internet connection – everything else – servers, data storage, security, networking, operating systems, databases, management tools are all included as part of the service. Vendors shoulder the responsibility for all administrative maintenance, updates, patches and security in partnership with our Cloud providers. This drives IT-related costs down considerably. It also eliminates any down time related updates application updates.
Anytime, Anywhere Information Access
The ability to access applications from virtually any Internet connected device allows security personnel to work effectively anywhere; whether at their agency, on patrol, at home, or at another geographical location; all while retaining the same level of access to their systems, data and individual user configurations. This greatly increases both efficiency and overall productivity of agency personnel.
Enterprise Grade Technology and Security
These “state-of-the-art” cloud-based solutions give agencies of any size a highly scalable, reliable and secure solution they don’t have to build and maintain themselves. They are staffed 24x7x365 with a team of technology professionals who are experts in all aspects of data center operations. OneNet’s data center incorporates the latest advanced security capabilities and operates in 100% compliance with CJIS Security policy. All platform administration is performed by the cloud provider including software updates, security patches, and data backups.
Future Proof Applications and Worry-Free Upgrades
New feature releases and upgrades execute seamlessly and automatically inside the incident management cloud environment with virtually no effort required on the part of each agency. As a result, agencies using our cloud-based products continue serving and protecting their communities with the most up-to-date technology available without the need to plan for expensive and time-consuming application or hardware upgrades.
The net result: Modern incident management cloud implementations deliver an inherently better and complete solution at a dramatically lower Total Cost of Ownership. This frees up valuable first responder resources to focus 100% of their effort on making people and their communities secure and safer without the distraction of complex technologies.
James Cape has spent over 36 years working in high technology in a wide variety of sales, marketing, business development and venture capital positions at several companies. Currently James is President of the Intel Alumni Network and a Strategic Advisor to OneNet.
