ledsSuite: The unCloud

Cloud computing. It permeates our society from banking websites to cable TV modems. It provides remarkable benefits such as keeping our software up to date and doing away with the need for each of us to understand and manage software changes. The vendor takes responsibility for maintaining the software, the server, and the operating system that it runs on. All of this is done by the vendor on its host system at an off-site location and it all happens behind the scenes.

In the public safety industry, however, true cloud-based software solutions may not be the best fit for working with agencies’ sensitive public safety data. Several examples include such things as State and FBI data management requirements, mission critical interfaces as well as agencies' internal rules or regulations requiring that the hardware and software be on premise to keep an eye on it at all times. In addition, a lack of connectivity to the vendor-based servers and the possibility of the vendor holding the agency hostage over who owns the data are also important considerations.

Zuercher Technologies provides many of the benefits of cloud computing without the inherent risks and drawbacks by using an appliance approach to implementing and maintaining our ledsSuite solution.

An appliance is the hardware and integrated software which has been combined to provide a specific service or resource. Everything in an appliance is pre-configured, so that when it arrives at a client’s location, it is ready to turn on and start working.

A standard ledsSuite solution includes the physical server or servers, the Operating System software, the Database System software and the Application System software (ledsSuite). We build and configure the solution on servers at our corporate office and ship it directly to agencies. The solution includes a remote diagnostic tool to allow real-time system and performance monitoring, as well as real-time database backups.

Our staff can install the hardware at the agency, but in many cases the physical installation is so easy it can be performed by almost anyone. Installation requires three things: a power outlet, a connection to the agency’s network, and an IP address. Once the appliance is up and running, we connect to it for setup, as well as to monitor and manage its performance.

As part of this appliance approach, and as a part of our standard maintenance and support agreement, Zuercher Technologies is able to provide the following services—just like cloud computing—but allowing greater agency control:
 

• Real-time system performance monitoring
• Real-time agency database backups
• Three to four automated ledsSuite upgrades (major releases) per year
• Regular automated ledsSuite updates (minor releases) as needed
• Automated operating system and database software upgrades as needed
• Hardware (server) upgrades:
  • Additional hard drive space
  • Additional system memory
  • Addition or replacement of physical servers to meet performance requirements

ledsSuite upgrades and updates often occur without any agency intervention. Software changes are automatically pushed to the client workstations with appropriate prior notification, and as with cloud based computing, the users instantly see the new features and enhancements when they log into the system.

Since Zuercher Technologies takes care of the support and maintenance of everything which comprises the appliance, we eliminate the typical forklift upgrade that most vendors require every 3 to 5 years. As long as the maintenance contract is in place, these big-ticket technology upgrades, which are often massively disruptive to an agency, become a thing of the past.

Our technology platform, solution architecture, and business model for supporting our client agencies allows us to deliver more benefits and services for less than our competition, while at the same time drastically reducing the resources needed by our clients to support and maintain our solution.