Overwhelmed with the sheer number of mobile devices and mission critical applications that you need to support, secure and remotely manage, when connecting your mobile workforce? License plate readers, body worn cameras, video surveillance feed, network management and mobile security, to name a few. Watch this video to understand some of the common challenges faced by IT departments when deploying a high performance mobile network for their police force.
In today’s connected world, services are increasingly being provided by vehicle-based workforces. These mobile workers rely on their devices to get the right information at the right time. Whether a paramedic is receiving patient information, a firefighter is finding the quickest route to the fire, or the police are making our streets safer, doing their jobs effectively now depends on their ability to send and receive data reliably and securely, but providing this connectivity is more than just access to the Internet.
All kinds of new technologies are available for vehicle operations that require secure reliable connections. For example, in law enforcement, officers often leave their vehicles to issue electronic tickets, and these need to be coordinated with courthouse schedules. License-plate recognition systems enable officers to be notified when their vehicles are in proximity to stolen vehicles, and new body-worn video may need to be transmitted in real time to precincts. In emergency medical services, laptops are often used for dispatch information, but defibrillator information and patient care records gathered on tablets can be sent to hospital in advance of patients. In utility fleets, workers use laptops and tablets to access information on infrastructure, customers, and inventory. Expensive equipment can be tracked using asset tags.
Being able to provide reliable connectivity for your mobile workforce makes workers more productive. They have access to the information they need when they need it. So you need a mobile router, but not all routers are created equal. You’ll want to consider the following: first make sure the device has been designed for in-vehicle use. Something designed for home or enterprise use isn’t rugged enough to withstand the extreme temperature, high vibration, and challenging power environments that are typically found in vehicles. Second, you’ll want to ensure the security of data, both in and around the vehicle and across the wide area connections. An end-to-end mobile VPN solution is required, and you may want to consider implementing security compatible with industry standards like CGIS and fibs. Third, ensure you can remotely manage the routers so you can properly support your workforce. You’ll want to remotely maintain to buy software, troubleshoot issues, and prevent downtime. Finally, beyond the capital cost of the router, be sure to ask about warranty and ongoing support costs. You don’t want to be paying extra for software updates and hardware replacements. To learn more about challenges and connecting mobile workforces, visit our Resources section.