IWSAlerts Emergency Alert System from AtHoc is Selected by Air Force Materiel Command for Network-Centric Emergency Notification for Two of Its Bases

AtHoc, Inc., provider of enterprise-class network-centric notification systems, announced today that two bases within Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) -- Edwards and Eglin Air Force Bases -- have purchased AtHoc IWSAlerts™.

The bases will use the offering to provide base-wide emergency notification using their existing Internet protocol (IP) networks. The AtHoc IWSAlerts system provides the bases with state-of-the art emergency communications capabilities that strengthen antiterrorism and force protection initiatives.

Edwards has already completed the deployment, and Eglin is scheduled to finish deploying the offering in November.

"We're excited the deployments within AFMC have been going well, and we're very pleased with the feedback we're getting directly from the communications squadrons deploying the offering," said Guy Miasnik, president and CEO of AtHoc. "With two of the ten AFMC bases now using AtHoc IWSAlerts, the Command is better prepared to deal with crises."

The emergency alert system combines a network alerting capability with a robust emergency notification management system. Using its network alerting capability, AtHoc IWSAlerts enables the installations to reach all personnel using a network-connected device, such as desktop PCs or PDAs. The alerts reach personnel in times of emergency with targeted messages and instructions for action -- all within an average of one minute.

AtHoc IWSAlerts' management system provides the bases with centralized management of all aspects of the emergency notification process. This includes: emergency scenario management, operators' permission management, end-user management, alerts tracking as well as the ability to connect and trigger multiple alert delivery system such as Giant Voice or telephony alerting systems, through a single interface.

AtHoc IWSAlerts' network alerts take the form of pop-up windows accompanied by an optional audio alarm. They describe the potential threat, categorize the threat level and include instructions for action. They can also be preconfigured so that when an emergency occurs, the system is already set up to alert different groups with detailed instructions for action.

The alerts comply with DoD standard signals and messaging specifications appropriate to Force Protection Conditions (FPCONs), watches, warnings, evacuation routes, battle staff directives and other federal, Department of Defense (DoD), U.S. Air Force, and base-specific emergency notifications.

Edwards and Eglin each has its own unique alerting needs. Some of those needs impact national security while others may be as simple as protecting personnel from hazardous weather.
• Eglin is right in the middle of hurricane alley, and it needs to make sure personnel know how to react to pending storms in order to protect the base and themselves.
• Edwards used the successfully deployed system to support an Operational Readiness Exercise to alert the base to multiple FPCON changes and other exercise-related activities.

"As more AFMC bases adopt AtHoc IWSAlerts, they will actually be able to alert their own base as well as other bases in the Command that need the information. This is exactly the approach adopted by the Air Education and Training Command due to the Command's decision to standardize on our offering," said Miasnik.

AtHoc's emergency notification management system operates through a Web-based operator console. Using this console, operators activate alerts from any computer connected to the base's network. Web-based access is a crucial capability, especially if the Command Center gets disabled during an emergency. The system may also be configured so that each operator has different rights to activate specific types of alerts. For example, some operators may be limited to activating weather alerts while others can only launch IT alerts.

AtHoc IWSAlerts is one of the few commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) network-centric notification systems that have received Defense Information Technology Security Certification and Accreditation Process (DITSCAP) certification. The product includes a specific library of audio-visual signals that comply with the Air Force's Full Spectrum Threat Response (FSTR) requirements outlined in Air Force Instruction (AFI) 10-2501. Such signals cover force protection (FPCON) commands, warnings and other DoD and USAF emergency messages.

About AtHoc, Inc.
AtHoc provides enterprise-class, network-centric notification systems for emergency alerting, force protection readiness, anti-terror warnings and critical communications. AtHoc offers a broad set of alerting solutions for the government/defense agencies and commercial enterprises, including IWSAlerts™ for Network-Centric Emergency Notifications; C2Alerts™ for Targeted User Alerts in Command & Control / C4I Operations Center; KMAlerts™ for Knowledge and Intelligence Dissemination; and EmployeeAlerts™ for Corporate Emergency Communications. AtHoc has partnered with Microsoft, Northrop Grumman and IBM to bring these notifications solutions to the enterprise market. The U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Air Force, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Boeing, eBay and Juniper Networks are some of the world-class organizations that have selected and deployed AtHoc for their critical enterprise notifications needs.