Cisco NERV

Interoperable communication when first responders need it most.
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Cisco NERV

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Helping Customers During Crises

The Cisco Tactical Operations (TacOps) team can quickly deploy to support the acute phase of emergencies that affect communications. The team establishes IP-based communications for:

• First responders
• Government agencies
• Relief organizations
• Others who require mission-critical connectivity to respond effectively

TacOps manages the Cisco Disaster Incident Response Team (DIRT) and provides on-the-ground support using:

• Rapidly deployable satellite-based networks
• Advanced Cisco technology
• Cisco Network Emergency Response Vehicles (NERVs)

TacOps also supports innovation and research in emergency communications by working with the global disaster technology community to develop standards and long-term solutions leveraging the latest network-centric technologies and applications.

Connecting First Responders

In a crisis, information needs to shared/accessed in real time by many.
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Connecting First Responders

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When a major emergency such as an earthquake or hurricane strikes, response organizations require immediate communications support to save lives, establish relief operations and provide ongoing assistance in affected communities.

Response agencies supporting a catastrophic emergency can request assistance by the following methods:

• Send an email to emergencyresponse@cisco.com
• Contact your Cisco account manager

Uniquely Trained

The Cisco TacOps team comprises expert networking, radio communications, and systems engineers along with logistics and operations coordinators.

Members of Cisco TacOps and the employee-volunteer Disaster Incident Response Team (DIRT):

• Are trained in the U.S. National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS)
• Participate in large-scale exercises to validate technology solutions and train alongside other responders

Uniquely Equipped

TacOps specializes in emergency networks that support the immediate needs of rescue, law enforcement and security, and humanitarian assistance teams. TacOps can also support traditional enterprise and service provider networks.

TacOps maintains many resources that are ready to deploy immediately, including:

• Cisco Network Emergency Response Vehicles (NERVs)
• Satellite-equipped support vehicles
• Fly-away networking kits that can be shipped or carried by hand

A geographically dispersed network unites all these resources so that TacOps can easily scale the response based on needs on the ground.

Uniquely Supported

The team's humanitarian relief operations are provided through the overall Cisco Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Program. To ensure delivery of high-quality expertise and equipment around the globe, TacOps operates in collaboration with the other Cisco crisis support functions, including:

• Corporate Social Responsibility
• The Cisco Foundation
• Corporate Security Programs Office
• Global Safety, Security, and Business Resiliency
• Customer Assurance Program

The following are just a few recent TacOps deployments:

• Hurricane Katrina, LA - 2005
• Firestorm, San Diego CA - 2007
• Evans Road Fire, NC - 2008
• Hurricane Gustav LA, Hurricane Ike TX - 2008
• Floods, Cedar Rapids IA - 2008
• Fiber Cut, San Francisco Bay Area, CA - 2009
• Earthquake, Port-au-Prince, Haiti - 2010
• Plane Crash, Palo Alto CA - 2010
• Gas Pipeline Explosion, San Bruno CA - 2010
• Fires, Boulder CO - 2010
• Earthquake, Christchurch New Zealand - 2010
• Earthquakes, Christchurch New Zealand - 2010/2011
• Floods, Queensland Australia - 2011
• Floods, Brazil - 2011
• Earthquake, Japan - 2011

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In order to build networking and emergency communications solutions for public safety or crisis support, please engage the Cisco TacOps team. TacOps provides years of in-the-field knowledge and subject-matter expertise, and can work alongside your existing Cisco Advisory Services or Cisco channel partner. TacOps can provide guidance on everything from emergency communications kits, crisis communication tools and mobile command and communications vehicles.

Customized Solutions

The TacOps team first gains a thorough understanding of your operational requirements, then develops the architecture and solution set to support them. TacOps works on projects as varied as:

• Development of mobile command vehicles
• Creation of satellite-based networking kits to support telemedicine in remote parts of the developing world
• Participation in a collaborative working group on Disaster Response Management Applications

Cisco TacOps is committed to identifying and supporting emerging technologies and solutions relevant to crisis response.

Awareness and Advocacy

One significant challenge is not knowing what current and emerging network-based technologies can accomplish in an emergency. TacOps presents "the art of the possible" at industry conferences and through direct engagement with response agencies, legislative bodies, and nongovernmental and other organizations.

Support of Industry Forums and Standards Bodies

Cisco TacOps actively participates in several organizations that promote cooperation between private and public-sector organizations, disaster relief effort coordination, and technical standards bodies.

Learn more about Cisco TacOps:

• Cisco NERV At-a-Glance 2010 (PDF - 174 KB)
• The Evolution of Hastily Formed Networks for Disaster Response (PDF - 578KB)
• NERV Flash Demo
• Missouri State Highway Patrol Case Study (PDF - 359 KB)
• Cisco NERV White Paper (PDF - 345 KB)
• Cisco TacOps Operations Center White Paper (PDF - 514 KB)
• Portable Incident Command for Border Patrol and Critical Infrastructure Protection (PDF - 161 KB)

Contact Cisco TacOps

For general information or to contact TacOps for a consulting engagement, do any of the following:

• Send an email to tacops-info@cisco.com
• Contact Cisco Sales at 800-553-6387 (for global numbers look here)
• Go to the Partner Helpline
• Contact your Cisco Account Manager

Response agencies of a catastrophic emergency can contact TacOps for assistance:

• Send an email to emergencyresponse@cisco.com
• Contact your Cisco account manager

Follow Cisco TacOps

Join Cisco TacOps on Facebook and Twitter:

• Facebook
• Twitter, San Jose, California
• Twitter, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina

Follow the news on TacOps:

• TacOps Wins the Red Cross 2011 'Innovative Preparedness Heroes' Award
• Trends in mobile communications centers (May 27, 2010)
• Haiti Quake: Keeping Haiti's Internet Alive (Jan 22, 2010)
• Police, Hospitals Scramble Through Emergencies (April 10, 2009)
• Phone cables vandalized in SJ (April 10, 2009)
• Community Emergency Response Team: Incident South County (April 9, 2009)
• Sabotage Causes Widespread Phone Outage (April 9, 2009)