Guest Editorial by Peter Quintas, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder of SOMA Global
For decades, public safety organizations have let sleeping dogs – or, in this case, outdated technology – lie.
Now, however, the dangers associated with a broken legacy server or a police car with a decade-old crashed dash computer are significant.
Downtimes can affect everyone from the IT manager who is stuck debugging a non-user-friendly system, the dispatcher who is shorthanded because of an outage, and the officer whose routine arrest takes three times the amount of time it should.
And don’t forget the citizens who face reduced service and slower dispatching.
Many public safety groups we speak to know something has to change. Tech should enable speed. When it’s slowing things down, there’s a problem.
Here are four reasons the industry is ready for a cloud computing revolution.
Public Safety Organizations Need Increased Situational Awareness.
Agencies worldwide have access to an unprecedented amount of information as technologies evolve. All of these pieces of data connect to create “situational awareness,” a synthesis of data in real-time across various resources.
The risks first responders face are always massive, but without data or situational knowledge – be it information from an overhead camera, messages from other officers, or even live feeds – officers go in blind.
However, situational awareness was once almost impossible to achieve. Not anymore.
By using cloud-based solutions, public safety officers can bring all this data together in one place instantly. An agency can process, deliver, and act upon data more intelligently than ever.
Instead of pulling numbers from a stack of papers and jotting them down in a notebook, public safety workers can automatically receive trends, predictions, and more to inform strategy and conversations.
For a police chief or other leaders, being out of the loop becomes a thing of the past.
Public Safety Organizations Need Data Interoperability.
More than ever, public safety organizations must be open, transparent, and collaborative. This means their data – once collated and collected in servers with little or no export functionality or interoperability – must now be available to almost anyone.
Without a cloud solution, these systems require plenty of human hands to manage the data coming in. While this wasn’t a problem in the past, we’re now facing shortages in filling critical positions across front-line professionals.
Manual processes, paper forms, and spreadsheets cannot easily be automated inside inflexible public safety systems, making it impossible to improve onboarding and operational efficiency.
Interoperability is no longer a nice-to-have; it’s mission-critical.
Public Safety Organizations Know They Must Be Accessible.
Cloud-based solutions solve portability headaches. Connecting to HQ via a tablet, a cell phone, or an in-car computer adds exponential value to everyone in the organization and makes any device a potential dispatching tool.
Always-on and always-available tools are critical to connect responders and enhance patrolling and recordkeeping.
On-the-go officers and first responders can document reports quickly, complete forms, and submit edits in real time.
This, in turn, lets them spend more time focusing on community safety and less on paperwork. Officers can focus on keeping communities safe and not waste time with outdated software.
Public Safety Organizations Know They Need Configurability.
Because of the 10th Amendment, public safety is incredibly fragmented. We’re not going to get a national system any time soon; instead, we have more than 35,000 local governments, each with the power to create local laws and procedures.
Across the board, form collection and customization are a massive headache for the public safety organizations we speak to. Cloud systems take the pain out of this point.
Forms are standardized when needed, and easy drag-and-drop functionality allows individual precincts or organizations to customize them. They can create forms, add features, and customize them for specific purposes.
Managers and dispatchers may even feel like developers at times. And that in itself shows how far we can take this tech revolution.
Many public safety organizations have been looking for ways to enter the 21st century. With cloud computing, that door is wide open.
The great news is that many industry pain points today can be solved with software.
It’s just a matter of taking that walk to the other side.
About the Author
Peter Quintas, in his role as Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of SOMA Global, is responsible for driving product and platform development, defining business goals and executing through growth, and for general operational and financial health.
Over the past 20 years, Peter has held executive and CTO positions in several technology companies such as Nomi, InterAct Public Safety Systems, and True Systems. His experience and expertise have been focused on high-growth businesses in enterprise software and launching innovative technology solutions.
SOMA Global is a team of public safety and technology veterans that understands and respects the value of a partnership with an agency.
They believe that together they can redefine and deliver modern, best-of-breed public safety solutions with a primary focus on saving lives and protecting first responders.
The SOMA Global Platform is an industry-leading, cloud-native platform built for public safety. Its enterprise ecosystem includes four key suites: critical response, incident management, courts and corrections, and administrative to meet the needs of its public safety partners.
Since 2017, SOMA Global has been a leading provider of critical-response software solutions for public safety.
To Learn More about their Public Safety Suites and the SOMA Global Platform, please visit www.somaglobal.com.
SOMA Global Named a Multi-Finalist in 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program highlights the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
AST has officially Announced the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Finalists in our 2022 ‘ASTORS’ FINALISTS EDITION *Fully Interactive* Mobile Magazine Here.
Additionally, the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Government Excellence and Public Safety Award Honorees have also been announced (Click Here), although there are several late-entry nominations still to be announced!
Register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon Today
Homeland Security remains at the forefront of our national conversation as we experience an immigration crisis along our southern border, and crime rates that are dramatically higher than before the Pandemic across the United States.
These challenges have become a national priority with an influx of investments in innovative new technologies and systems.
The pinnacle of the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is the Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony Luncheon Banquet, an exclusive, affordable, gourmet, full-course plated meal event, in the heart of New York City, held at the International Security Conference & Exposition (ISC East) since it’s inception in 2017.
And who better to address the aforementioned challenges, and initiatives to meet today’s threat landscape than Deputy Executive Assistant Commissioner (DEAC) Diane J. Sabatino of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the opening keynote speaker at the much-anticipated 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon, on Wednesday, November 16th, 2022.
As the DEAC of the Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Mrs. Sabatino leads over 31,000 employees and oversees an annual operating budget of $6.5 billion.
American Security Today’s Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program, and now in its Seventh Year, continues to recognize industry leaders of Physical and Border Security, Cybersecurity, Emergency Preparedness – Management and Response, Law Enforcement, First Responders, as well as federal, state and municipal government agencies in the acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to Keep our Nation Secure.
(See highlights from the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Ceremony and Luncheon in NYC. Courtesy of AST and Vimeo.)
The continually evolving ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program will emphasize the trail of Accomplished Women in Leadership in 2022, as well as the Significance and Positive Impact of Advancing Diversity and Inclusion in our Next Generation of Government and Industry Leaders – because #MentorshipMatters.
My mission is to teach people their role in ending gun violence in their community.
You can make a difference. Parents, educators, community leaders, policymakers, and security professionals can all help stop the killing.
It starts with knowledge. You are part of the solution.” (Courtesy of Katherine Schweit)
In addition, the First 100 Registered Attendees to the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Ceremony and Banquet will receive a complimentary autographed copy of ‘STOP THE KILLING: How to End the Mass Shooting Crisis‘ by the former head of the FBI’s active shooter program, Katherine Schweit.
Ms. Schweit offers insight into what we can do to end the active shooter crisis plaguing America.
Within the pages of STOP THE KILLING she provides us with an insider’s look at what we’ve learned and failed to learn, about protecting our businesses, houses of worship, and schools.
So Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon on November 16th, 2022, to reserve your copy!
Special Guests at the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, include Commissioner Bill Bratton (and executive director of TENEO RISK Advisory Group), NYPD’s Finest Chief of Department Kenneth Corey, as well as Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President at NEC National Security Systems (NSS, which deploys groundbreaking solutions for government use, including access control and security, next-gen identity verification, scene processing, advanced analytics, and intrusion detection, and is our Platinum Sponsor for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program).
AST Honors Thomas Richardson, FDNY Chief of Department; Dr. Kathleen Kiernan, President of NEC National Security Systems; and Richard Blatus, FDNY Assistant Chief of Operations, at the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon at ISC East.
Dave Cagno, Comm Bratton’s Chief of Staff will also be in attendance; as well as Kym Craven, Executive Director for National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives (NAWLEE); representatives from DHS Federal Protective Service (FPS); Argonne National Laboratory (ANL); DHS Science & Technology (S&T); the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); the United States Coast Guard, and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM); CISA’s Interagency Security Committee (ISC), and Executive Leadership including Director Shonnie Lyon, of the DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management (OBIM).
We have representatives of the esteemed New York City Fire Department(FDNY); the New York City Police Department(NYPD); and the NYC Hospital Police, invited this year, as well as Executive Management from the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA); Mr. Michael Breslin of LexisNexis Risk Solutions, and Mr. Tom O’Connor of FedSquared Consulting; nominated by Professor Dean Alexander; Women In International Security Global (WIIS); the 30×30 Initiative, a coalition of professionals advancing the representation of women in policing; and Operation Lifesaver, Inc. (OLI) (rail safety advocates).
The United States was forever changed on September 11th, 2001, and we were fortunate to have many of those who responded to those horrific tragedies join us at our 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon.
In the days that followed 9/11, the critical need to protect our country catapulted us into new and innovative ways to secure our homeland – which is how many of the agencies and enterprise organizations that are today ‘ASTORS’ Awards Champions, came into being.
Enter, American Security Today, the #1 publication and media platform in the Government Security and Homeland Security fields with a circulation of over 75,000 readers and many tens of thousands more visiting our AST Website at www.americansecuritytoday.com each month.
The 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is Proudly Sponsored by New PLATINUM SPONSOR: NEC National Security Systems (NSS),
New Premier Sponsors Rajant Corporation, guardDog AI, plus IPVideo Corporation, and
Returning Premier Sponsors ATI Systems, Automatic Systems, Fortior Solutions, RX Global, and SIMS Software!
In 2021 over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State, and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms gathered from across North America, Europe, and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields.
Register Today for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Luncheon
ISC East is the Northeast’s leading security & public safety event, hosted in collaboration with premier sponsor Security Industry Association (SIA) and in partnership with ASIS NYC.
Each year, in order to keep our communities safe and secure, security dealers, installers, integrators, and consultants, along with corporate, government and law enforcement/first responder practitioners, convene in New York City to network, learn and evaluate the latest technologies and solutions from premier exhibiting brands.
This combination of one-on-one conversations with top innovators, high-quality special events, and cutting-edge education and training, makes ISC East the most comprehensive East Coast event to guide the industry in getting back to business.
Taking place November 15-17 at the Javits Center in NYC (SIA Education@ISC: November 15-17 | Exhibit Hall: November 16-17), ISC East will be co-located with the Natural Disaster & Emergency Management Expo (NDEM EXPO), a comprehensive trade event and online resource dedicated to the preparation, response, and recovery of physical and human assets of public and private organizations, and the 33rd ASIS NYC Expo.
Qualified professionals who register for the 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Banquet Luncheon, will receive complimentary access to all three events.
Corporate firms, the majority of which return year to year to build upon their Legacy of Wins, include:
Advanced Detection Technologies, AMAROK, ATI Systems, Axis Communications, Automatic Systems, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., Cellbusters, CornellCookson, CyberArk Fortior Solutions, guardDog.ai, Hanwha Techwin of America, High Rise Escape Systems, IPVideo Corporation, Konica Minolta Business Solutions, NEC National Security Systems, NICE Public Safety, OnSolve, PureTech Systems, Quantum Corporation, Rave Mobile Safety, Regroup Mass Notification, Robotic Assistance Devices, Rajant Corporation, SafeLogic, Select Engineering Services LLC, Singlewire Software, SolarWinds Worldwide, Teledyne FLIR, Valor Systems, and West Virginia American Access Control Systems, just to name a few!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old-school basics to what is Today – a fast-changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State, and local levels of government as well as firms allied to the government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers’ eyes throughout the story with cutting-edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
AST Digital Publications are distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals, in federal, state, local, and private security sectors.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture, and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state, and local levels as well as from private firms allied to the government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website, and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please see the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2021 ‘A Year in Review’.
The Annual CHAMPIONS edition includes a review of Annual ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firm’s products and services, including video interviews and more.
It serves as your Go-To Source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2021 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and/or organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection, and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware, and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION has what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitigate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
-
For a complete list of 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Award Winners, begin HERE.
For more information on All Things American Security Today, as well as the 2021 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
Subscribe to the AST Daily News Alert Here.
Learn More…
Menu Set and VIP Guests Registering for 2022 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon
