NCJ Number
204410
Journal
Homeland Defense Journal Volume: 1 Issue: 9 Dated: December 2003 Pages: 8-9
Date Published
December 2003
Length
2 pages
Annotation
This article describes three pioneering efforts in emergency communications that pertain to the integration of diverse sensors into a single system, mobile monitoring, and securing communications.
Abstract
NetBotz, an Austin-based (Texas) company, specializes in providing platforms that integrate sensors and cameras and provide information to security personnel. Once a sensor is plugged into the NetBotz platform, an administrator only needs to provide the values that would generate an alert to the designated personnel. Emergency alerts can be sent to pagers, e-mails, or customized communications platforms. Reductions in sensor prices over the past few years allow cities to consider placing emergency communications systems around water sources, utilities, and physical infrastructure. Verizon Federal Network Systems, based in Arlington, VA, has been adapting its mobile router software for use in space systems. A mobile router allows all of the host machines behind it to maintain their own addresses, but when the mobile router connects to a network through a foreign agent, it tunnels back to a home agent. Through these tunnels, the home agent forwards all of the information to those hosts. The mobile router moves from one network connection to another while being transparent to the individual user. In recent years, Harris Corp., which is based in Melbourne, FL, has built its business around supplying innovative communications solutions, particularly those that pertain to homeland defense. Harris' STAT Scanner Professional Edition alerts network administrators to security flaws in Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, NT, 2000, XP, and Server 2003, as well as security weaknesses in other types of software produced by other companies. STAT Scanner assesses network vulnerabilities to provide administrators with the information necessary to make upgrades. Otherwise, it can implement the recommended security precaution with the press of a single button. Harris has also provided universities with STAT Neutralizer Server Edition, which protects Web servers that are running Microsoft Internet Information Services.