IBM, Cisco team for crisis management

IBM Corp. and Cisco Systems Inc. will partner to provide emergency crisis response as an end-to-end managed service.

The IBM Management Services for Crisis Response solution combines communications, collaboration technologies and satellite and wireless capabilities. The service is available to help governments and first responders prepare, respond and recover from events in challenging environments.

The IBM and Cisco solution packages hardware, software, services and satellite-based capabilities as one service, for a one-stop emergency response communications network. The solution is designed to integrate into organizations' daily operational fabric and become a network communications and information hub during times of disruption.

The system offers open, modular, wireless and standards-based commercial platforms that address aspects of a catastrophic or disruptive event, while preserving the integrity and security of infrastructure to help clients respond to the emergency.

The system will provide continuity of operations, network operability and recovery, IP-based interoperable communications and other features.

Key components of the service are multiple, automated, intelligent-response management platforms that are enabled by a service-oriented architecture. All can be rapidly deployed to help restore operations in the event of a crisis.

Platforms available today include:

• A tactical communications kit ? a suitcase-size kit designed for rapid deployment that can be forward positioned.
  
• A fixed or easily transported fog cutter device ? a server-rack-size module that is flexible and delivers deployed, scalable core and extended voice, data and video interoperability to any area.
  
• A network emergency response vehicle ? a sport utility vehicle that provides medium-scale network, communications and information-based services.
  
• A command network emergency response vehicle ? a six-wheel truck that delivers large-scale network, communications and information-based services.