An emergency notification system shouldn’t be a standalone island in your security strategy. To be truly effective, it must work in concert with your existing infrastructure. When your access control system detects a breach and automatically triggers a lockdown alert to that specific area, that’s the power of an integrated approach. A standalone product creates information silos, but a connected system provides a faster, smarter response. As you evaluate each emergency notification system vendor, it’s crucial to consider their integration capabilities. This guide will show you what to look for to build a cohesive security ecosystem for your facility.
Key Takeaways
- Prioritize a unified system, not just a standalone tool: An emergency notification platform is most powerful when it connects with your existing security technologies, like access control and HR databases, to automate alerts and ensure accuracy.
- Vet the vendor as a long-term partner: Look beyond the feature list and evaluate a vendor’s customer support, implementation process, and industry expertise to ensure you have a reliable ally during a crisis.
- Activate your technology with a human-centered plan: The system is only as effective as the people using it, so success depends on developing clear communication protocols, providing ongoing training, and running regular drills.
What to Look for in an Emergency Notification System
Choosing an emergency notification system is a major decision that directly impacts the safety of your people and the resilience of your operations. With so many options available, it’s easy to get lost in feature lists and technical jargon. To cut through the noise, you should focus on the core functions that truly matter during a crisis. A great system isn’t just about sending alerts; it’s about delivering the right information to the right people at the right time, seamlessly and securely. Let’s break down the key areas you should evaluate to find a system that fits your organization’s unique needs.
Essential Capabilities
At its core, an emergency notification system must be scalable, intuitive, and insightful. Your system should grow with your organization, whether you’re adding new locations or expanding your team. Ease of use is non-negotiable; during an emergency, you need a platform that simplifies complex tasks and allows your team to send clear, accurate messages without hesitation. Look for a system with robust reporting capabilities. The ability to measure the effectiveness of your notifications helps you refine your emergency plans and demonstrate the system’s value. This data allows safety officers to see message delivery rates, acknowledgments, and response times, providing a clear picture of how well your communications strategy is working.
Security and Compliance
When you’re handling sensitive employee data and critical communications, security is paramount. Your chosen system must be built on a secure foundation that protects against unauthorized access and data breaches. It’s crucial that the vendor follows important privacy regulations like GDPR to ensure your data handling is compliant. A reliable emergency notification system should also offer round-the-clock live support with guaranteed quick response times. You need a partner who is available to help you at a moment’s notice, because emergencies don’t stick to a 9-to-5 schedule. Ask potential vendors about their security protocols, data encryption methods, and compliance certifications to ensure they meet your organization’s standards.
Reliability and Performance
In a crisis, every second counts. An emergency notification system is useless if it isn’t reliable. The platform must have a proven track record of high uptime and dependable performance, ensuring your messages get through when it matters most. The system should be designed to help your organization respond faster and send clear, error-free messages, even under the most stressful conditions. This means having a user-friendly interface, pre-built message templates, and a powerful infrastructure that can handle high-volume sends without delay. Look for vendors known for their high-quality systems and industry recognition, as this often points to a commitment to excellence and reliability.
Integration Capabilities
A standalone emergency notification system can create information silos. The most effective solutions are those that integrate smoothly with your existing technology stack. The ability to connect with other company systems, like HR databases, scheduling software, and physical security hardware, is a game-changer. For example, integrating with your access control systems can automatically trigger alerts based on door breaches or unauthorized entry attempts. This automation not only speeds up response times but also reduces the chance of human error. When a system works with the tools you already use, it makes your communication efforts more accurate, efficient, and context-aware.
Comparing Top Emergency Notification Systems
Choosing a vendor is a major decision, as each offers a different approach to keeping your people safe. Some focus on software and mobile delivery, while others specialize in integrating with your building’s physical infrastructure. Here’s a look at some of the top names in the industry and what makes each one stand out.
Umbrella Security Systems
As a system integrator, our approach is a bit different. Instead of offering a single, one-size-fits-all product, we partner with you to design and implement a solution that fits your exact needs. We specialize in creating cohesive emergency notification systems that work seamlessly with your existing infrastructure. This means tying your alerts into your access control systems to automatically lock doors or integrating with your video surveillance to provide real-time visual information during an event. Our focus is on building a comprehensive security ecosystem for your Chicago-area facility, ensuring every component works together to keep your people safe and informed when it matters most.
AlertMedia
AlertMedia is known for its user-friendly and reliable platform. Their system is designed to make sending alerts fast and simple, whether you’re dealing with a major emergency or just sending out daily operational updates. According to the company, their goal is to keep people “safe, informed, and connected during any situation.” This focus on simplicity is a major draw for organizations that need a system their team can use effectively under pressure, without a steep learning curve. The platform’s strength lies in its ability to reliably reach people wherever they are, making it a solid choice for businesses with remote or traveling employees.
Everbridge
Everbridge positions itself as a comprehensive solution for critical event management. Their platform is built to help organizations communicate quickly and effectively before, during, and after a major incident. As Everbridge states, their system helps “connect and inform everyone in an organization…before, during, and after critical events.” This full-lifecycle approach is ideal for large-scale operations, including government agencies and corporations, that need to manage complex situations from start to finish. Their mass notification system is designed to reach both internal teams and the public, making it a versatile tool for widespread communication.
OnSolve
OnSolve takes a proactive approach by integrating AI-powered risk intelligence into its platform. This allows organizations to not only react to emergencies but also to anticipate and mitigate potential threats before they escalate. Their system constantly monitors for risks, from severe weather to supply chain disruptions, and provides early warnings so you can act decisively. By combining critical communications with this predictive intelligence, OnSolve helps businesses manage critical events with greater context and foresight. This makes it a strong option for organizations in logistics, transportation, and other industries where operational awareness is key to maintaining safety and continuity.
Alertus Technologies
Alertus Technologies focuses on creating unified, facility-based emergency notification systems. Their core mission is to help organizations prepare for emergencies, keep people safe, and ensure business continuity. As Alertus explains, their systems are designed to “send out emergency alerts to many people at once.” A key strength of their solution is its ability to integrate with a wide array of existing infrastructure, including desktop computers, IP phones, digital signage, and PA systems. This layered approach ensures that alerts are seen and heard by everyone on-site, making it a popular choice for universities, hospitals, and large corporate campuses that need to blanket their facilities with critical information.
How to Choose the Right Vendor
Selecting an emergency notification system vendor is about more than just comparing features on a spec sheet. You’re choosing a partner who will be there for you during your most critical moments. A great vendor acts as an extension of your team, offering robust technology and the support you need to use it effectively. As you evaluate your options, think about the long-term relationship. Look for a provider who understands your unique operational challenges and can offer a solution that scales with your organization. This process requires a thoughtful approach that balances technical capabilities with practical considerations like user training, ongoing support, and a clear implementation plan. By taking the time to vet vendors thoroughly, you can find a partner who truly enhances your organization’s safety and resilience.
Assess Your Needs
Before you even look at a single demo, start by looking inward. What does your organization truly need? Create a detailed list of your requirements, separating the “must-haves” from the “nice-to-haves.” Consider factors like scalability—will the system grow with you? Think about ease of use for both administrators and end-users. Most importantly, how well will it integrate with your existing security infrastructure, like your access control systems? A clear understanding of your specific needs will be your most powerful tool, helping you cut through the marketing noise and focus on the vendors that can actually solve your problems.
Test System Performance
You wouldn’t buy a car without a test drive, and the same principle applies here. A live demo is essential, but a free trial or a pilot program is even better. During this phase, test the system against your most common and most challenging emergency scenarios. Can you send a message to a specific group in a specific building? How quickly are alerts delivered across different channels? Pay close attention to the reporting capabilities. A good system provides detailed analytics that allow your safety officers to measure the effectiveness of your communications, helping you refine your emergency plans over time.
Evaluate Customer Support
When an emergency hits, the last thing you want is to be stuck on hold. A vendor’s customer support is a critical component of their offering. During your evaluation, ask detailed questions about their support structure. What are their standard response times? Do they offer 24/7 support? What does the onboarding and training process look like? You should pay significant attention to the support and training provided by the vendor to ensure your team can use the system effectively from day one. Look for a partner who is invested in your success, not just in making a sale.
Analyze the Costs
While budget is always a factor, the vendor with the lowest price isn’t always the best value. It’s important to consider price in the context of your overall needs and the system’s capabilities. Ask for a detailed breakdown of all costs, including setup fees, licensing, hardware, and ongoing maintenance. Be wary of hidden fees for things like sending a certain number of messages or adding new users. Think in terms of the total cost of ownership over several years, not just the initial investment. A slightly more expensive system that is reliable and easy to use will likely provide a better return than a cheaper, less effective alternative.
Review the Implementation Timeline
A great system is useless if it takes a year to get up and running. Ask potential vendors for a realistic implementation timeline, from signing the contract to full deployment. A detailed plan should include key milestones, hardware installation, software configuration, and staff training. Understanding how the new system will be integrated with your existing infrastructure is crucial for a smooth rollout. A transparent and well-managed implementation process is often a strong indicator of the vendor’s overall professionalism and commitment to their clients. This ensures your team can adopt the new technology successfully and without major disruptions.
Key Features to Compare Side-by-Side
When you’re evaluating different vendors, the specific features can start to blur together. It helps to have a clear checklist of what matters most for a modern, effective system. Focusing on these six core capabilities will help you cut through the marketing noise and find a solution that truly fits your organization’s needs, ensuring your team is prepared for any situation.
Multi-Channel Communication
In a crisis, you can’t assume everyone will see an email. A robust system must be able to send alerts across multiple channels simultaneously. This includes SMS texts, voice calls, emails, mobile app push notifications, and even desktop pop-ups or Slack messages. The goal of emergency mass notification solutions is to reach people wherever they are, on the device they are most likely to be using. Relying on a single point of contact is a recipe for failure; true resilience comes from a layered communication strategy that blankets your entire organization with critical information, ensuring no one is left in the dark.
Customizable Message Templates
During an emergency, every second counts. Fumbling to write a clear, concise message under pressure is a major risk. Look for a system that allows you to create and save message templates for various scenarios ahead of time. Whether it’s a severe weather warning, a building evacuation, or an active threat, having pre-approved messages ready to go ensures you can send alerts quickly and without error. Some modern platforms even use AI to help you draft messages, further streamlining the process so you can focus on managing the situation, not on wordsmithing your alerts.
Automated Responses
Sending an alert is only half the battle. You also need to know if your people are safe. A system with two-way communication capabilities is essential for this. It allows you to include simple prompts in your messages, like “Reply YES if you are safe” or “Reply HELP if you need assistance.” This feature transforms your notification system from a simple megaphone into a dynamic tool for confirming the well-being of your team. The collected responses provide immediate, actionable intelligence, helping you direct resources where they are needed most and account for every individual.
Reporting and Analytics
After an incident is resolved, the work isn’t over. It’s crucial to analyze how your communication efforts performed. A strong emergency notification system provides detailed reporting and analytics on message delivery, open rates, and response times. This data is invaluable for post-event debriefs, allowing you to identify what worked and where there are gaps in your strategy. Were certain departments less responsive? Did one channel outperform others? Using these insights helps you continuously refine your emergency plans, measure effectiveness over time, and demonstrate due diligence in keeping your people safe.
Mobile Accessibility
Emergencies don’t wait for you to be at your desk, and your ability to respond shouldn’t be tied to one. Mobile accessibility is non-negotiable for both administrators and recipients. Your security team needs a powerful mobile app that allows them to launch alerts and manage a crisis from anywhere, at any time. For your employees, receiving alerts directly on their personal devices is often the fastest and most reliable way to get information. A system without a fully functional, intuitive mobile experience is already a step behind in preparing for a real-world event.
Integration Capabilities
A standalone notification system is good, but an integrated one is far better. The best platforms are designed to connect seamlessly with your other business and security technologies. For example, integration with your HR database automatically keeps employee contact information current, eliminating the risk of outdated lists. You can also connect the system to your physical security infrastructure. Imagine your access control systems detecting a forced entry and automatically triggering a lockdown alert to the affected area. This level of integration creates a cohesive, automated security ecosystem that responds faster and more intelligently to threats.
Breaking Down Pricing and Implementation
Choosing an emergency notification system is a major decision, and the sticker price is only one part of the equation. To make a smart investment, you need to understand the total cost of ownership, which includes the initial setup, ongoing fees, and the internal resources required to manage it. A smooth implementation process is just as critical as the system’s features. A vendor who partners with you through setup, training, and testing will ensure your team is ready to act confidently when it matters most. Let’s walk through what to expect when it comes to pricing and getting your new system up and running.
Common Pricing Models
Emergency notification system vendors typically use a few common pricing structures. One popular option is an annual subscription based on the number of users, which often includes unlimited messaging. This model is a great fit for organizations that anticipate sending a high volume of alerts and want predictable, all-inclusive costs.
Another approach is a fixed-cost model. This can be an excellent choice for smaller organizations or those that don’t expect to send messages as frequently. With a fixed cost, unlimited pricing model, you get the certainty of knowing your exact annual spend, which makes budgeting much simpler. When evaluating vendors, ask them to explain their pricing tiers so you can find the one that aligns with your communication needs and financial plans.
Watch Out for Hidden Costs
While the base price is a key factor, it’s crucial to look beyond the initial quote to avoid surprises. Some vendors charge extra for implementation, initial staff training, or premium customer support. You might also find additional costs for specific communication channels, like per-message fees for SMS texts, or charges for integrating the system with your existing software, such as your access control systems.
Always ask for a complete and transparent breakdown of all potential costs. Price is an important piece of the puzzle, but as experts at Alert Media note, it should be considered alongside other critical factors like reliability, support, and overall value.
The Setup Process
Getting your emergency notification system live involves more than just flipping a switch. The implementation process requires careful planning and execution to ensure it works seamlessly within your organization. Key steps typically include importing employee and contact data, configuring user roles and permissions, and establishing communication channels.
It’s important to anticipate the challenges that can arise during implementation, such as cleaning up data or integrating with legacy systems. A great vendor will act as a partner, providing a clear project plan and dedicated support to guide you through each phase. They should help you configure the platform to match your specific operational workflows and security protocols.
Staff Training Needs
A powerful system is only effective if your team knows how to use it under pressure. Comprehensive training is essential for everyone who will be sending alerts or managing the system. Many organizations use multiple tools, which can sometimes complicate the training process. Look for a system with an intuitive interface and a vendor that offers robust training resources.
Ask potential vendors what their training program includes. Do they offer live sessions, on-demand videos, or written guides? Is training an ongoing resource, or is it a one-time event during setup? The goal is to ensure your team feels completely comfortable with the platform, so they can act quickly and decisively during an actual emergency.
Essential Testing Protocols
You can’t wait for a real crisis to find out if your emergency plan works. Regular testing is the only way to validate your system and procedures. This involves more than just sending a test message; it’s about verifying that your entire emergency response plan is effective, from the initial alert to the final “all-clear.”
Establish a routine testing schedule, such as quarterly drills for specific scenarios and a full-scale exercise at least once a year. These tests help you identify any gaps in your plan, confirm messages are being delivered correctly across all channels, and build your team’s muscle memory. Consistent practice ensures that when an emergency happens, your response is swift, coordinated, and effective.
Does Your Industry Have Special Requirements?
An emergency notification system isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. The right platform for a hospital will have different features than one for a manufacturing plant or a school campus. Your industry’s unique operational challenges, regulatory landscape, and physical environment all play a huge role in determining what you need. Before you can choose the right vendor, you have to understand the specific demands of your field. Let’s look at the distinct requirements for several key sectors to help you clarify what to look for.
Healthcare
Healthcare facilities operate under immense pressure, where every second counts and patient privacy is paramount. Your emergency notification system must deliver alerts instantly to staff, patients, and visitors across a sprawling campus without compromising sensitive data. The system needs to be fully compliant with regulations like HIPAA, ensuring all communications are secure. Whether it’s a medical emergency, a facility issue, or an external threat, your platform must be able to send targeted messages to specific departments or broadcast facility-wide alerts while maintaining a clear, auditable trail of all communications.
Education
On a school or university campus, safety depends on clear and immediate communication. An effective emergency alert system must be incredibly user-friendly for staff and students, enabling swift action during crises like lockdowns or severe weather. The challenge is reaching a diverse audience that includes students, faculty, parents, and local authorities simultaneously. Your system should support multi-channel alerts—from text messages and emails to PA system takeovers and digital signage—to ensure no one is left uninformed. The ability to integrate with existing security infrastructure is also key for a coordinated response.
Corporate
In a corporate setting, employees are often spread across multiple buildings, floors, or even remote locations. Many organizations also use a variety of communication tools, from Slack and Microsoft Teams to email and desk phones, which can complicate emergency notifications. A unified alerting platform is essential to cut through the noise and ensure every employee receives critical information quickly and consistently. The right system will integrate with your existing software to streamline communication, allowing you to send a single message that is automatically distributed across all channels, confirming receipt and keeping your team safe.
Government
Government agencies, from municipal offices to federal facilities, have a civic duty to protect employees and the public. A key challenge is ensuring any new alert system can be integrated with existing emergency management frameworks and protocols. The success of a government alerting ecosystem depends on seamless collaboration between different departments and agencies. Your system must be reliable, secure, and capable of reaching a wide population during large-scale emergencies. It should also support interoperability to ensure clear communication lines with first responders and other critical entities.
Manufacturing
Safety is the top priority in any manufacturing facility. The environment is often loud, busy, and filled with heavy machinery, making traditional alerts easy to miss. A robust mass notification system is crucial for preventing accidents and ensuring worker safety during emergencies like chemical spills, equipment malfunctions, or fires. Your system should include powerful visual and audible alerts, such as strobe lights and high-decibel sirens, in addition to mobile notifications. Integrating with access control systems can also help secure specific zones and manage evacuations more effectively.
Common Roadblocks (And How to Avoid Them)
Implementing an emergency notification system is one of the most important investments you can make in your organization’s safety. While the technology itself is powerful, a successful rollout depends on more than just picking the right vendor. The process involves integrating technology, preparing your people, and establishing clear procedures. Anticipating potential challenges is the best way to ensure a smooth and effective implementation. By planning ahead for these common roadblocks, you can build a resilient communication strategy that works when you need it most.
Complex Integrations
Most businesses rely on a variety of software and tools to operate. A new emergency notification system needs to communicate seamlessly with your existing technology, from HR databases to scheduling software and access control systems. When integrations are complicated or overlooked, you can end up with data silos and inefficient manual workarounds—the last things you want to be dealing with during a crisis.
To avoid this, start by mapping out your current tech stack before you begin evaluating vendors. A clear picture of your systems will help you ask the right questions. Prioritize a platform with a strong API and a proven track record of successful integrations. The goal is always a unified system that centralizes communication.
Encouraging User Adoption
A sophisticated notification system is only useful if your team trusts it and knows how to respond to alerts. If messages are ignored or misunderstood, the system fails. This often happens when there’s a lack of communication about why the system is being implemented or how it works. Getting buy-in from everyone, from leadership to front-line staff, is absolutely essential for success.
The best approach is to involve your team early and often. Clearly explain the benefits for their personal safety and make training mandatory but engaging. Run drills and ask for feedback on the clarity of the alerts. When people feel included in the process, they are far more likely to embrace the technology as a valuable safety tool.
Infrastructure Demands
An emergency notification system depends on your underlying infrastructure to deliver messages quickly and reliably. During a real emergency, your network can become congested, or power might be unstable. If your infrastructure isn’t robust enough to handle the increased demand, critical alerts could be delayed or fail to send entirely, defeating the purpose of the system.
Before you commit to a vendor, perform a thorough assessment of your current network capabilities, power backups, and server capacity. Be realistic about what your infrastructure can support. You may need to invest in upgrades, such as more reliable fiber network technology, to guarantee your emergency messages are always delivered on time.
Ongoing Training and Support
Implementing an emergency notification system isn’t a one-time project. As time goes on, staff members who were trained during the initial rollout may forget procedures, and new employees will need to be brought up to speed. Without continuous training, your team’s ability to use the system effectively during a high-stress event will decline, creating dangerous gaps in your emergency response.
Establish a regular training schedule from the very beginning. This should include annual refreshers for all staff and comprehensive onboarding for new hires. Create simple, accessible resources like quick-reference guides and checklists. Running periodic drills helps keep skills sharp and ensures everyone is familiar with the system and their role in an emergency.
System Upkeep and Maintenance
Technology is constantly evolving, your contact lists will change, and your organization’s needs will shift. An emergency notification system that isn’t regularly maintained can quickly become outdated and ineffective. Software requires updates to patch security vulnerabilities, and contact information must be current to ensure alerts reach the right people. Neglecting this ongoing upkeep can make your system unreliable when you need it most.
Treat your notification system like any other piece of critical business equipment. Work with your vendor to establish a clear maintenance schedule for software updates and system health checks. Internally, create a process for regularly auditing and updating your contact database. Proactive system maintenance ensures your investment remains effective and ready to perform at a moment’s notice.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
Choosing the right emergency notification system is a huge step, but it’s only the first one. The real work begins once the system is in place. A powerful tool is only effective if you have a solid strategy for using it. Think of it like having a state-of-the-art fire extinguisher—it’s useless if no one knows where it is or how to pull the pin. To truly protect your people and property, you need to build a framework of clear plans, regular practice, and ongoing refinement. This approach ensures your technology and your team are always ready to respond effectively when it matters most. Let’s walk through the key practices that turn a good system into a great safety strategy.
Develop a Clear Communication Plan
Before an emergency happens, you need a detailed playbook. Your communication plan is the strategy that guides your notification system. It should clearly outline who has the authority to send alerts, what specific messages will be sent for different scenarios—like a medical emergency versus a security threat—and which channels will be used. When you select an emergency notification system, consider how its features align with your plan. A good plan defines roles and responsibilities, so there’s no confusion in a crisis. It’s about creating a clear, calm, and structured response that your technology can execute flawlessly.
Test and Update Regularly
A plan that only exists on paper is bound to fail. You have to test your system and your procedures regularly to find gaps before a real crisis does. Schedule drills and functional tests to ensure messages are delivered promptly and that your staff knows how to react. Use the reporting features in your system to measure the effectiveness of these tests, tracking delivery rates and response times. Just as important is keeping your contact information current. People come and go, so make it a routine to audit and update your contact lists every quarter to ensure your alerts reach the right people every time.
Implement Ongoing Staff Training
Technology can’t do its job if your team doesn’t know how to use it. Comprehensive training is essential for everyone, from the administrators who send alerts to the employees who receive them. Many organizations use multiple security tools, which can make training complicated. An integrated emergency mass notification system simplifies this process. Your training program should cover how to initiate an alert, what different alerts mean, and the specific actions to take for each one. Make this training part of your new-hire onboarding and hold annual refreshers for all staff to keep their skills sharp.
Monitor System Performance
After every drill or actual event, take the time to review what happened. Monitoring your system’s performance provides the data you need to make smart improvements. Analyze your system’s reports to see how quickly messages were sent, which channels were most effective, and if any messages failed to deliver. This systematic evaluation helps you assess whether your plan is practical and comprehensive. Use these insights to refine your message templates, update your communication protocols, and identify areas where your team might need more training. This data-driven approach turns every event into a learning opportunity.
Commit to Continuous Improvement
Security isn’t a “set it and forget it” task. Threats evolve, your organization changes, and technology advances. Committing to continuous improvement means you’re always looking for ways to make your emergency response better. Create a feedback loop where employees can share their observations after a drill. Stay informed about new technologies, like advanced air, light, and sound detection sensors, that can be integrated into your system. A truly effective safety program is a living one, constantly adapting to create a more resilient and prepared environment for everyone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the real difference between buying a system from a vendor versus working with a system integrator? Think of it this way: a vendor sells you a specific software product, much like buying a tool off the shelf. A system integrator, like us, partners with you to design and build a complete solution. We focus on making sure the notification platform works seamlessly with all your other security components, like your access control and video cameras, to create a single, cohesive safety ecosystem that’s tailored to your specific building and operational needs.
How do we get our employees to take alerts seriously and avoid “alert fatigue”? This is a common concern, and it comes down to being strategic. Reserve the system’s most urgent channels, like text messages and voice calls, for true emergencies. For less critical operational updates, use email or app notifications. When you establish clear expectations and don’t overwhelm people with constant pings, they learn to trust that a major alert is something that requires their immediate attention.
Can we use an emergency notification system for non-emergency situations? Absolutely. While its primary job is crisis communication, a versatile system is also a great tool for important operational messages. You can use it to announce IT outages, notify staff of building maintenance, or share important scheduling changes. Using the system for these routine communications also has the added benefit of keeping your team familiar and comfortable with the platform.
How often should we actually be testing our system? Regular testing is crucial for building confidence and finding gaps in your plan. A good practice is to conduct smaller, targeted tests quarterly, perhaps focusing on a single department or a specific scenario. Beyond that, you should plan for at least one comprehensive, organization-wide drill each year. This consistent practice ensures your technology works as expected and your team knows exactly what to do.
We’re just starting our search. What’s the very first step we should take? Before you even look at a single demo, the most important first step is to look inward. Gather your key stakeholders and create a detailed list of your organization’s specific needs and potential risks. Think about who needs to receive alerts, what scenarios you need to plan for, and what existing technology the system must connect with. This internal assessment will become your roadmap for finding a solution that truly fits.