Protecting our nation’s critical infrastructure is one of the toughest jobs that you, as a security professional, may ever face. Whether your mission is to protect government facilities, energy infrastructure, nuclear reactors, transportation systems, information technology, or any of the United States’ 16 critical infrastructure sectors, you know that the stakes are high and that even a minor breach could have debilitating effects on our national security, public health, economy, and more. 

But protecting and securing critical infrastructure today, in a world shaped by massive digital transformation, requires a very specific set of skills and strategies. For example, much of the technology used to protect critical infrastructure is moving online and becoming increasingly interconnected–both a benefit and a potential vulnerability. There are also massive advances in AI, hurtling us forward at Mach speeds, that are changing the very nature of security–again, both a benefit and a potential risk.  

Then there is the global reality of international conflicts and advanced threats from both nation states and well-resourced adversaries. Safeguarding our critical infrastructure sectors from attack, disruption, and exploitation is a serious responsibility given the enormous pressures and risks from all directions.  

In this high-stakes environment, how can you ensure that you have the right tools and strategies to capably protect and secure critical infrastructure? As alarm monitoring professionals who serve the nation’s top defense, intelligence, and other agencies in this highly-sensitive arena, we recommend taking the following actions.

Unify your alarm monitoring operations to achieve total situational awareness–and accelerate your response times

You have a complex security architecture to manage and monitor–and that just comes with the job. But complicating things are all the different systems, sensors, signals, wires, and screens that can clutter up your field of vision and distract you from what really matters: what is happening with your security, right here, in real-time, right now?   

If you’re managing too many systems and screens, it can be hard to see the forest for the trees, so to speak. But bring all of those disparate systems together behind a single pane of glass–a unified dashboard–and you could be managing every aspect of your security operations in the most streamlined, powerful way possible. This unified vision can help you respond faster to emerging security incidents. 

At Security Information Systems (SIS), we help our government and commercial clients do just that with advanced alarm monitoring software that provides a 360-degree real-time view of their entire security architecture. From disparate bases across time zones to multi-facility campuses and the halls of our most prestigious government buildings, we help bring total clarity to highly complex, high-stakes security environments. 

Integrate legacy systems with modern technology

A unified alarm monitoring solution can help you achieve enhanced situational awareness so you can manage threats proactively with real-time monitoring, response, and coordination. But what about all those legacy systems that just haven’t been able to fit into your modern-day operations?   

We’ve seen it over and over again: the perfectly good fire alarm system that still works but can’t connect to digital monitoring solutions, or the sensor from 1983 that is pivotal to your operations but still speaks analog. Ripping out and replacing those would cost more than your budget would ever allow–so what do you do? 

First, if the systems you’re already using work for you, there’s no need to replace them with something newer or flashier. Extending a system’s useful lifespan can save you both time and money, and is often just a matter of making the right connections. For example, when we help clients in critical infrastructure sectors modernize their security operations, we show them how easy it is to integrate legacy systems with current technology. They’re usually relieved to find that no matter the signal, no matter the manufacturer, and no matter the year it was installed, even old analog equipment can work with modern-day alarm monitoring software.  

From video surveillance to access control, temperature monitoring to fire alarms, integrating your legacy and modern technology is the key to achieving total security awareness. 

Put your trust in time-tested, trusted solutions

When you’re responsible for high-stakes security and alarm monitoring at the nation’s most critical infrastructure sites, you have to have absolute confidence in the reliability of your chosen software. To ensure your critical infrastructure security operations remain ironclad, we recommend seeking out alarm monitoring software that is:   

• Time-tested, with a proven track record of reliability 

• Vetted and approved for use at the highest levels of security 

• Tested and certified by industry watchdogs 

• Trusted by clients at other critical infrastructure, intelligence, defense, and government agencies 

Important questions to ask are:  

• Is this solution certified by an industry watchdog, like UL or ULC? 

• Has this solution been cleared for use on high-security government systems? We recommend looking for “Authority to Operate,” or “ATO” on Department of Defense Systems. Even if you aren’t connected to the DoD, this authorization tells you that the software solution is trusted, secure, and has been tested for the toughest security challenges. 

• How long has this software been in use, and what is its track record for reliability and security? How long do clients stay with this software provider?  

• Do the personnel working on this software have high-level security clearance?  

• What kind of uptime rates does this software provide? 

• Does the software solution come with rigorous network vulnerability scanning, assessment, and protection?  

If secure, time-tested, and trusted security is a top priority for your organization, Security Information Systems (SIS) can provide proven alarm monitoring solutions that work with your mission, your parameters, and your systems.  

SIS has been thoroughly tested by major government entities, from defense to intelligence agencies, to ensure maximum reliability, security, and protection. Our software is government-cleared for use on all Department of Defense computers and certified by industry watchdogs like UL and ULC for reliability, performance, and security. We also boast an unprecedented 99.99% uptime rate, and our highly-skilled software engineers and technical personnel have high-level government security clearance.  

We can help your critical infrastructure organization streamline and consolidate alarm monitoring, integrate with thousands of legacy and modern systems, and scale to meet whatever your future needs require. Call us today to find out what’s possible when you choose SIS.