As news of the hacking of the Dallas emergency siren system spreads, “Is My Emergency Notification System Safe from Hacking?” is a question crossing many minds.
A growing number of municipalities, military bases, industrial facilities, and campuses utilize these systems to alert and protect their populations.
Acoustic Technology, Inc. (ATI), a leader in the mass notification industry, and a competitor in the 2017 AST Homeland Security Awards Program, has long anticipated the potential for such vulnerabilities, and has designed systems for many years that incorporate advanced security protocols to prevent attacks.
Radio control systems for sirens have evolved greatly over the years. Simple on/off control systems using DTMF tones were relatively easy to hack or spoof.
In contrast, using FSK modems to encode digital data sent over the radio eliminates the most obvious vulnerabilities.
However, providing true cybersecurity is complex, and needs to be addressed from many angles.
Some system operators have been reluctant to upgrade to more modern control systems due to budgetary concerns. However, in light of recent events, it has become clear that not upgrading can also be costly.
Many older systems include few, if any, of the advanced security features ATI can provide.
All ATI command packets (including those sent over radio) are protected by several security features, including encryption with Advanced Encryption Standard (AES).
ATI’s proprietary system control software, MassAlert™, is designed to prevent intrusion and to secure the communication links to warning systems in the field.
MassAlert™ employs a credential hierarchy to ensure users and administrators only have access to appropriate functions.
Also, storage of critical system data is encrypted and ATI’s remote unit controller hardware includes watchdogs on program operation and Cyclical Redundancy Checks on stored program code.
Finally, MassAlert™ uses the more modern Transport Layer Security (TLS), the successor to Secure Socket Layer (SSL), for protection of communication running over IP links such as Ethernet, fiber optics, Wi-Fi, or satellite.
ATI Systems is a world leader in the design, manufacturing, and installation of reliable emergency warning and notification systems for the campus, community, industrial, and military markets.
ATI has developed innovative wireless systems that provide intelligible voice and visual warnings via a simple and compact hardware design, user-friendly software, and the latest communication methods, including radio frequency, IP Ethernet, and satellite technology.
ATI’s Mass Notification Systems easily integrate with other warning systems to provide more complete solutions. ATI is an ISO-9001 certified company.
ATI Systems ‘MassAlert’ Competes in 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program
The 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program, organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of Physical, IT, Port Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, (Fire, EMT, Military, Support Services Vets, SBA, Medical Tech) as well as the Federal, State, County and Municipal Government Agencies – to acknowledge their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
As an ‘ASTORS’ competitor, MassAlert will be competing against the industries leading providers of emergency mass notification systems.
2017 ‘ASTORS’ Winners will be honored at the ‘American Security Expo 2017’ to be held November 8-9, 2017, in the Meadowlands Exposition Center, at the 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Luncheon which will take place the afternoon of November 8, 2017.
The full two-day conference & exhibit venue in the New York City area, will include a full schedule of conference meetings and speakers – plus an Unmanned Security, Robotics & Drone Exhibition Arena, Hiring Event & Education Opportunities.
Good luck to ATI Systems and MassAlert on becoming a Winner of the 2017 American Security Today’s Homeland Security Awards Program!
For more information about ATI, visit www.atisystem.com.
Learn More about MassAlert…
MassAlert Competes in 2017 AST Homeland Security Awards (Video)
