Heads of local law enforcement bear the crucial responsibility of ensuring the safety and well-being of the public. That includes serving as the public face of community policing efforts, to build trust with citizens at a time when police activity is increasingly scrutinized. As well as formulating departmental policies, preparing operating budgets, attending city council meetings, and recruiting and retaining officers. “The job of a police chief is more complicated and challenging today than ever,” writes one chief of police.
And while cell phones, body cameras, surveillance systems, and other technologies continue to improve the ways police do their jobs, they all add to the work police chiefs and their administrative staff do every day. These are just a few examples:
- Communication systems that allow real-time communication between police, fire, and emergency service responders
- Video surveillance systems, traffic cameras, and license plate recognitions (LPR) systems
- Crime databases, driver registries, and data exchanges
- Geographic information systems and location databases
The increasing complexity of these public safety systems can make it difficult for police departments to keep them up to date, optimized and secure.
Utilizing Managed IT Services to Improve Public Safety
One way that local police departments can continue to deliver efficient and reliable services is to utilize managed IT services to support their daily operations. A managed service provider (MSP) can optimize the performance of public safety systems, reduce operational costs, and help ensure that data and systems remain secure from cyberattacks.
By outsourcing IT management to an MSP, police departments can keep their critical services available and accessible every hour of every day. That’s because MSPs have the expertise and resources to proactively monitor and maintain IT systems, improving system reliability and uptime, and identifying and resolving issues before they become costly problems. Their services can also extend to consolidating systems, upgrading hardware and software, and implementing best of breed solutions. Ultimately, this improves performance, reduces costs, and enhances the scalability of local police department systems.
Protecting the Protectors from Cybercrime
In addition to improving system reliability, a Managed Service Provider can also install advanced security solutions, such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data encryption, to protect against cyberattacks. Cyber threats are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and public safety agencies are particularly vulnerable due to the sensitive nature of the data they handle. By partnering with an MSP, local police departments can strengthen their cybersecurity defenses and safeguard critical information.
Managed IT services are an ideal option for local police departments who need support for their public safety systems beyond what their own department staff can provide. By leveraging the expertise and resources of MSPs, they can enhance system reliability, strengthen cybersecurity, and optimize their IT infrastructure, ensuring the safety and well-being of their communities.
Police departments throughout the Southeast have relied on managed services from InterDev for years. Talk to a member of our team to learn how we can help optimize and secure the technology you rely on every day.
