The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently launched a new mobile application — DHS Intel — designed to deliver and share timely intelligence information with law enforcement and first responders across the country.

Until last month, most intelligence information was either sent via e-mail distro lists or viewed on sites optimized for desktops and laptops, DHS says. With the app, this information is now available on the go for state, local, territorial, tribal (SLTT), campus, and federal partners who rely on intelligence to keep the country safe. 

The app represents the latest enhancement to the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) — DHS’ platform created in 2006 for sharing information and enabling real-time collaboration between SLTT partners. HSIN provides key technologies and tools to protect the United States from adversarial threats, facilitate coordinated responses to natural disasters, and help law enforcement secure the nation’s borders.  

“Rapid changes in technology and the need for convenience while working from home during the COVID pandemic prompted HSIN users to ask for new tools to access information easily, quickly, and securely from any device,” DHS said. In many instances, law enforcement officers, first responders, and federal personnel are in operational environments and need easy, secure access to intelligence reports, updates, and relevant breaking information. “Our goal of transforming HSIN to a user-friendly application to meet these customers’ needs provided us the perfect opportunity to move fast and create DHS Intel.”

According to DHS, the app will continue to evolve with significant feature updates in the coming months and is available in the Apple App Store and will be available in the Android App Store this summer.