The larger a business or organization becomes the harder it is to communicate within it. Remote locations, sprawling corporate campuses, different work environments and various "need to know" levels all combine to create an enormous communications challenge. This challenge is daunting enough on a normal scale. Consider the consequences when the communication needs to be an emergency alert in the face of real danger. 

• Transform your existing IP network into an enterprise-class mass notification system for rapid communication, pervasive reach and cost-effectiveness
• Unify all communication channels and devices, into a single system to simplify activation, ensure message consistency and reduce alerting time
• Manage the notification process across the enterprise with pre-defined scenarios, operator access policies, multi-location support, alert activation flow, tracking and reporting
• Monitor video feeds, physical sensors and external data sources to automatically trigger notification scenarios
• Ensure accuracy of personnel contact information by integrating with enterprise directories and supporting end user self-service
• Improve building safety – integrating with existing fire alarm and public address systems  

FEATURES AND BENEFITS
AtHoc IWSAlerts incorporates enterprise-class capabilities to manage the emergency notification process across the entire organization. Using a web-based console, operators from any location in the organization can activate alerts to virtually any device, track responses and view accountability reports. Automatic notifications can be triggered by physical sensors and data feeds. Notification processes can be defined to support both enterprise-wide and individual facilities’ needs.

Unified Notifications to All Devices
Through a single unified interface, AtHoc IWSAlerts allows you to quickly communicate a consistent message across multiple channels and delivery devices – all integrated using the IP network. Notification channels include: Networked computers, telephones (landline, mobile, VOIP), text-messaging (SMS) and e-mail to mobile phones, pagers and BlackBerry devices, speakers and sirens, local cable TV and digital display boards, local radio stations and the National Emergency Alert System (EAS).

Personnel Targeting by Organization and Geography
AtHoc IWSAlerts can target personnel based on organizational structure, distribution lists or physical location. Personal and mass notification devices (such as sirens and display boards) can be targeted using visual geographic maps, enabling the selection of buildings, regions or zones to be notified. Dynamic targeting can be accomplished using a combination of attributes such as rank, medical training level or IP address.

Emergency Scenarios and Processes
AtHoc IWSAlerts automates operating procedures for emergency situations by providing a library of over 100 out-of-the-box DoD scenarios, including FPCON, INFOCON and warning conditions. Scenarios include alert content, response options, targeted recipients and delivery devices. Operators can customize their own scenarios and processes or create new ones using simple web-based tools.

Response Tracking and Reporting
Alert recipients are presented with multiple response options for selection and acknowledgement on all personal communication channels (e.g., desktop, phone, SMS or e-mail). The delivery, receipt and responses of the alerts are tracked in real time, providing operators with both aggregated overview summaries as well as detailed delivery information for each alert recipient. These reports provide visibility and accountability of the organization’s personnel.

• Integration with Organizational Repositories – AtHoc IWSAlerts concurrently integrates with multiple enterprise user directories to continuously synchronize personal and organizational information. Supported repositories include Active Directory, LDAP, MilPDS, CivPDS and common HRMS applications. 
• Operator Management – Local operators can either manually update contact information for their local personnel or import personnel rosters in common file formats such as CSV or XLS.
• User Self-Service – Individual end users can access and modify their own personal information and device preferences through a web-based, self-service portal, as well as view their personal alert Inbox. 

Event Monitoring and System Interoperability
Emergency events are often triggered by physical sensors (e.g., fire alarms, video surveillance and chemical detectors) or external data sources (e.g., National Weather Service content feeds). AtHoc IWSAlerts provides a means for monitoring such events, and using pre-configured business rules, it can automatically activate any emergency scenario. By utilizing CAP, XML and Web services, AtHoc IWSAlerts also enables communication with external systems, such as federal, state and local agencies for information sharing and interoperability. 

ARCHITECTURE AND DEPLOYMENT
Centralization and Multi-tenancy
With its enterprise capabilities, AtHoc IWSAlerts can be deployed centrally to support an entire organization while catering for the alerting needs of its individual facilities. This means that an organization can disseminate alerts across all facilities with visibility across the entire enterprise, while providing each facility with its own “private” alerting system. AtHoc IWSAlerts also includes a permissions management system that controls operator access rights to scenarios, personnel contact information and device types. Beyond increased data confidentiality and network security, this centralized, enterprise-wide approach enables rapid deployment as well as reduces infrastructure and support costs.

• High Availability – Automatic and manual failover to an alternate site in case of critical failure of primary site
• Security – A load-balanced server farm to support tens of thousands of end users
• Scalability – Uses standard and open protocols including CAP, XML and Web services
• Interoperability and Integration – Multiple delivery options including

• On-premise – Entire system deployed behind the firewall leverages secure integration with user directory databases and internal resources including network, PBX, Giant Voice and physical security sensors
• Hosted / Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) – Available as a service from a remote hosting facility, speeds deployment and eliminates the need for on-site hardware
• On-premise with Remote Communication Center – Application software installed locally with secure access to remote communication center that handles mass telephony dialing and text messaging without taxing local telephony resources
• On-premise with Hosted Failover – Application software is installed locally with failover to host facility, assuring redundancy even if the entire facility’s network goes down