Blog

New Public Safety Communications Network Resiliency Self-Assessment Guidebook Released

Released
Revised
Related topics:

Communication resiliency is an important aspect of an organization’s mission-critical operations. Complete end-to-end network resilience is difficult to achieve, but an organization can greatly improve “always available” communications by identifying and mitigating resilience issues through a self-assessment of its local access network. As such, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Emergency Communications (OEC) is pleased to announce the Public Safety Communications Network Resiliency Self-Assessment Guidebook, a comprehensive guide for government and public safety entities which:

  • Offers instructions for how to assess resiliency of a public safety communications network
  • Describes common critical resiliency gaps in public safety networks
  • Proposes mitigation solutions for assured communications in stressed network environments
  • Demonstrates a proven methodology for data gathering, connectivity mapping, and analysis

DHS OEC recommends use of the Guidebook for organizations performing resiliency self-assessment. SAFECOM and National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) approved the Guidebook in July 2018. It is the companion document to the Public Safety Communications Resiliency – 10 Keys to Obtaining a Resilient Local Access Network. DHS OEC has been performing resiliency assessments since 2002, and the Guidebook and “10 Keys” documents were developed by DHS OEC subject matter experts using previous experience helping organizations with resiliency.

Although the Guidebook focuses on the diversity component of public safety communications resiliency, DHS OEC has found self-assessments often uncover physical, operational, and cyber risks not associated with routing. In these instances, DHS OEC recommends risks be documented and appropriate solutions identified, including those available via DHS’ wide array of mitigation tools and capabilities detailed in the Guidebook.

For additional information on the Guidebook and other matters related to public safety communications resiliency, please contact DHS OEC at OEC-Routediversity@hq.dhs.gov.