Integration of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) and Emergency Mass Notifications Enables Improved Communication during Critical Situations
Vienna, Va. ─ March 17, 2010 ─ VidSys, the leading provider of Physical Security Information Management (PSIM) software that allows organizations to resolve business and security situations in real time, today announced that it has entered into a technology partnership with AtHoc, the pioneer and leader in network-centric emergency mass notification systems. The two companies will combine the reach of AtHoc’s mass notification systems with the intelligence and dynamic situation management capabilities of the VidSys PSIM software system to enable swift and centralized bi-directional communication before, during and after times of crisis.
The AtHoc network-centric emergency notification systems disseminate alerts and manage the emergency notification and response process. Through the integration with the VidSys PSIM software system, geospatial information and real-time knowledge of an unfolding situation from VidSys is combined with AtHoc IWSAlerts to rapidly disseminate accurate, timely and situation specific intelligence to help recipients get out of harm’s way. The VidSys PSIM software can send text, audio and images to AtHoc, which can then incorporate that data into the notification.
For example, an operator managing a fire situation in RiskShield, the situation management application within the VidSys PSIM software system, could initiate an evacuation of the building through the organization’s established action plan and immediately invoke AtHoc to distribute the evacuation notification. Such notifications would include intelligence from VidSys, directing people to the safest exit from the building and warning alert recipients as to which exits, if any, to avoid. AtHoc IWSAlerts will track user acknowledgements of the evacuation alert and provide an “enterprise personnel accountability picture” of the status and safety of all personnel as the situation evolves.
“Emergency mass notification systems are designed to alert people to a potential danger and provide an appropriate course of action based on information from the unfolding event,” explained Dubhe Beinhorn, vice president of alliances and channels for AtHoc. “Through this partnership, we are able to leverage real-time situation information from the VidSys PSIM software and enhance information sharing during critical situations thereby protecting people and infrastructure.”
“Our PSIM software has the unique ability to dynamically adapt to evolving situations to provide the best real time response based on rules and standard operating procedures,” said Dave Rosenlund, vice president, product management and marketing, at VidSys. “Integrating our situation management capabilities with AtHoc’s mass alerting solution enables real time communication for improved responder collaboration, responses and results.”
About AtHoc
AtHoc is the pioneer and recognized leader in providing enterprise-class, network-centric emergency notification systems to military, government and commercial organizations. AtHoc’s products are used for physical security, force protection, personnel accountability, recall and regulatory compliance. Millions of end-users worldwide, in organizations such as the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, NASA, UCLA, Microsoft, Boeing and PricewaterhouseCoopers rely on AtHoc’s unified notification systems for their emergency alerting and critical communication needs. AtHoc has partnered with market leaders including Microsoft, Cisco, Dell, Harris, Siemens, Avaya, MIR3, Lockheed Martin and others to bring these notification solutions to the public and commercial markets. For more information on AtHoc, please visit http://www.athoc.com/.
