Real-time Emergency Notification
Enterasys Networks Enterprise Notification System (ENS) transforms any network into a highly effective real-time notification system for every online user. It is the first on-demand alert system to reach every online user in a building or on a campus, regardless of whether they are a pre-registered student/employee or a visiting guest/contractor. Everyone connecting to the organization’s data network – managed or not – is automatically presented with on-screen emergency response instructions. The Enterasys ENS also may be used to deliver important community emergency information such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to a specific area. ENS assures rapid delivery of consistent message information in a cost-effective manner when it matters most.
“Unfortunately, today’s government offices, school campuses, and commercial buildings are environments increasingly at risk of violent crimes, terrorism, and natural disasters around the world,” said Rob Arnold, Senior Analyst for Enterprise Communications at Current Analysis. “The ENS from Enterasys enables more pervasive communications that complement existing voicemail, email and text messaging approaches. The closed-loop system is unique in the market by allowing online users to acknowledge receipt of the message while also providing a “silent” feedback channel to first responders.”
Other notification systems available in the market today rely on the student, parent, resident, employee or contractor to pre-register an email address, phone extension number or SMS mobile phone number in a directory database. These enrollment approaches require active prior effort by the community you are trying to protect; do not automatically update as contact information changes; and do not easily accommodate visitors and guests.
A recent situation at St. John’s University in New York illustrates the pre-registration problem. On 26 September 2007, a gunman on campus resulted in the university community being advised via a text messaging system to stay in classrooms and remain in buildings and offices until the campus could be secured. According to university spokesman Dominic Scianna, before the incident 2,100 people had registered for emergency text messages. Now, there are 9,000. St. John’s has a total student and faculty population of more than 21,500. Less than half of their community is pre-registered to receive text messaging alerts even after a major campus incident.
Once implemented, any authorized employee, emergency responder or law enforcement official can access the Enterasys Enterprise Notification System via an easy to use graphical interface following simple, intuitive instructions. The authorized individual creates the notification message, determines its severity (i.e., color-coded threat advisory), selects particular buildings/floors that will see the message, then transmits the message in seconds with a single click. All web communications for every online user or temporary visitor will be redirected to the Enterasys ENS’s web page which displays the real-time notification message. Once the message has been read and acknowledged, the user/guest is routed back to their originally requested web page in just one click. The system can also be configured as a “silent alarm” to enable teachers or employees to notify authorities of an emergency situation in real time.
