Mitigating Risks in the Application of Cloud Computing in Law Enforcement

Ashburn, VA, December 15, 2012 --(PR.com)-- The IJIS Institute, a nonprofit organization that focuses on mission-critical information sharing for justice, public safety, and homeland security, is pleased to announce a new cloud computing resource for law enforcement. In partnership with the IBM Center for the Business of Government, IJIS Institute executive director emeritus, Paul Wormeli, authored a report titled Mitigating Risks in the Application of Cloud Computing in Law Enforcement.

The concept of cloud computing, although rising in popularity in the business world, is still somewhat of a new idea for the law enforcement community. As the notion of information sharing continues to change shape, justice and public safety communities struggle to operate under dwindling budgets and higher expectations for productivity and efficiency. Cloud computing can offer a cost-effective way to improve mission-critical operational success. As such, it is essential that executives in the law enforcement community begin to understand and embrace the benefits of the cloud.

“The law enforcement community is undergoing a major transformation and being asked to do more with their current infrastructure and manpower," said Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center. “Cloud computing offers a cost-effective way for law enforcement agencies to improve their ability to analyze and manage records and ultimately create a safer environment by allowing them to take full advantage of their resources.”

Mitigating Risks in the Application of Cloud Computing in Law Enforcement is based on a survey of leaders in the law enforcement community. The survey data helped Wormeli to gain an increased understanding of major issues, which include concerns about reliability and availability, performance requirements, cost of migration, and the recovery of data. In response to these concerns, Wormeli explains how the law enforcement community can effectively respond. The report concludes with six recommendations on how law enforcement organizations can successfully implement a move to cloud computing.

Wormeli stated, “The time for resolving concerns in law enforcement about cloud computing is now, as many jurisdictions seek ways to lower costs and increase the value of computer systems with the potential of applying this new technology. This report attempts to provide useful information for resolving the issues that are most troublesome to law enforcement executives. The IJIS Institute is very pleased that IBM was willing to join in the effort to help raise the level of discourse on this topic, and we appreciate the support that IBM gave to this project.”

About the IJIS Institute—The IJIS Institute unites the private and public sectors to improve mission-critical information sharing for those who protect and serve our communities. The IJIS Institute provides training, technical assistance, program/project management, and information sharing advisory services to help justice, public safety and homeland security agencies realize the power of information. Founded in 2001 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with offices on The George Washington University Virginia Campus in Ashburn, Virginia, the IJIS Institute has grown to nearly 200 member and affiliate companies across the United States. For more information, please visit: http://www.ijis.org.

About the IBM Center for the Business of Government—The IBM Center for the Business of Government connects public management research with practice. Since 1998, we have helped public sector executives improve the effectiveness of government with practical ideas and original thinking. We sponsor independent research by top minds in academe and the non-profit sector, and we create opportunities for dialogue on a broad range of public management topics. For more information, please visit: http://www.businessofgovernment.org/content/about-center-business-government-connecting-research-practice.