BURLINGAME, CA--(Marketwire - July 25, 2008) - AtHoc, Inc., the pioneer and leader in
network-centric emergency notification systems, today announced that its
flagship product, AtHoc IWSAlerts™, is fully compliant with the
recommendations for network-centric alerting systems outlined in the
recently updated Department of Defense's (DoD) Unified Facilities Criteria
(UFC) 4-021-01 entitled "Design and O&M: Mass Notification Systems." For
AtHoc's extensive DoD client base, this means they are already using a
system that fully supports the recommendations laid out in the new UFC.
For the first time, the UFC has incorporated a list of specifications for
network-centric alerting solutions as part of the criteria for mass
notification systems. While the network-centric specifications are not yet
defined as mandatory, they are provided as guidance for DoD agencies as
they embark on deployments of network-based alerting capabilities that
supplement their giant voice and fire alarm systems.
The UFC committee sees a clear role for network-centric alerting systems as
part of an overall mass notification strategy, stating in the report that,
"Text notification via wireless devices and desktop computer notification
are effective means for delivering mass notification messages to multiple
recipient groups." The criteria later states, "Desktop notification is
particularly effective when more complex information must be conveyed, and
can be a cost-effective interim solution prior to installing an individual
building MNS." The UFC also conveys that specifications are currently
published to "stimulate development of suitable requirements and standards
for DoD installations." By formalizing the recommendation and requesting
feedback, the DoD has taken the first step in a process that commonly
results in making a capability a mandatory standard.
"The DoD has led the adoption of network-based emergency alerting systems,
beginning to deploy them as early as 2004. In fact, more than 130 DoD
facilities already use AtHoc IWSAlerts to protect approximately one million
people," said Guy Miasnik, president and CEO for AtHoc. "Though some of the
individual military services already have regulations in place requiring
network alerting functionality, the newly amended UFC raises the importance
of network-centric alerting and signals maturation of the market. It also
paves the way for wide adoption of this capability across the DoD."
According to William Sako, chairman of Sako & Associates, Inc. and a senior
vice president of Rolf Jensen & Associates, Inc. a global leader in fire
protection, security and media technology, "The UFC committee has done a
great job adapting mass notification requirements to embrace modern IP
network technologies. Their guidance will impact the DoD and other
government and commercial organizations requiring emergency alerting
systems. For example, the UFC impacts standards for organizations such as
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the primary authority on
fire prevention and public safety, which today provides guidance for mass
notification systems and their relationship to fire protection systems. The
NFPA is currently working on moving the network-centric alerting
recommendations into mandated code for mass notification to private sector
commercial projects."
Specific Recommendations
UFC 4-021-01 recommends adopting network-centric systems to supplement and
manage existing alerting capabilities already deployed as part of
facilities' mass notification systems. The UFC outlines the value of
network-based alerting for reaching all IP-connected devices such as
computers, personal digital assistants, landline phones, cell phones and
email while also triggering traditional notification systems such as giant
voice and outdoor warning systems. It also highlights the role
network-centric solutions can play in managing the entire notification
process, including:
-- Unifying alert activation through a single Web-based console to
deliver alerts across multiple delivery platforms such as computers,
telephones, SMS/text messaging, email and giant voice/PA systems
-- Targeting recipients based on location, job function, distribution
lists and more
-- Tracking and reporting on alert delivery and responses for each alert
and recipient
-- Managing users including integrating with directories such as LDAP and
Active Directory
-- Serving an individual facility or scaling to multi-facility,
geographically-dispersed organizations such as major commands
-- Interoperating with and monitoring external sensors including third-
party sources of emergency events
The full UFC can be found at
http://www.wbdg.org/ccb/DOD/UFC/ufc_4_021_01.pdf, and the section that
references network-centric alerting systems is located on page 84 of the
PDF.
About AtHoc
AtHoc is the pioneer and recognized leader in providing enterprise-class,
network-centric emergency notification systems to military, government and
commercial organizations for physical security, force protection and
personnel accountability. Millions of end users worldwide, in organizations
such as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Hawaii State Civil
Defense, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Boeing, PricewaterhouseCoopers
and eBay, rely on AtHoc's unified management systems for their emergency
alerting and critical communication needs. AtHoc has partnered with market
leaders including Microsoft, Cisco, Harris, Siemens, Avaya, Lockheed
Martin, Unisys and others to bring these notification solutions to the
public and commercial markets.
For more information on AtHoc, please visit
http://www.athoc.com.
Contact Information: Contact:
Ivy Eckerman
Spire Communications
(540) 373-2963