Volume 10
Feb 2017 Edition
When properly applied , a mobile crisis management platform can help control a dangerous situation and protect information , infrastructure , and people .
Here are some examples :
• Individuals under duress can securely send their location , a photo , or other information about the situation from their mobile phones to security officials .
• Government agencies can push real-time alerts to the smartphones of people on the building grounds and nearby , notifying them about the situation and directing them to safety .
• Agency officials can monitor social media channels to gather information in real-time from people on the scene who are posting photos or details about the situation
• Police can send sensitive photos , maps , and other data to officers ’ mobile devices over a secure , digital-rights-management ( DRM ) - protected channel .
• Officials can monitor government employees ’ locations and safety through location-based services .
• Should the worst happen and an officer is killed or captured by the shooter , IT can immediately deactivate his or her phone to prevent proprietary information from being accessed by unauthorized people .
( They say we live in a connected world … but do we ?)
Financial realities
Mobile-based crisis-communications platforms that enable the above are available today .
They vary in cost , which is an important factor in these budget-strapped times , as well as their capabilities .
Broadly speaking , a crisis communications platform must be able to do these three things : 1 . Protect people : Keeping people safe is always the No . 1 priority and the ultimate purpose of protecting information and infrastructure . Governments are charged with maintaining the integrity of our everyday communications and interactions while also
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