Dual fully mirrored facilities geographically dispersed, one on the East Coast, one on the West Coast, full-load capable monitoring centers. Each aspect of our center’s technology, infrastructure and operations is multi-redundant to work faultlessly and ensure uninterrupted service.
Redundant Power Systems
Featuring four digitally controlled Caterpillar diesel generators. Two supply 1.2 megawatts of secure standby power supported by independent 1,200 gallon fuel tanks and an additional two provide a supplemental 1.6 megawatts of secure standby power supported by independent 3,100 gallon fuel tanks. Additionally, four Liebert 150 kVA Uninterrupted Power Supply units wired into quad-buss configurations provide unfailing power.
The West Coast facility features dual digitally controlled Caterpillar diesel generators, supported by independent 1,400 gallon fuel tanks which supply 900 kilowatts of secure standby power. Additionally, two APC 100 kVA Uninterrupted Power Supply units wired into a dual-buss configuration to guarantee continuous power.
Network Security
Advanced network security systems at both facilities include Palo Alto Networks® and Barracuda Networks™ next-generation firewalls installed in High-Availability (HA) Pair. Redundant Blue Ridge Networks™ crypto-servers create a VPN “cryptographic tunnel” for external remote access, providing some of the most advanced encryption in the world.
Redundant Phone Switch Communication is the most critical component to any central station. We have taken great care to ensure continuous communication and no interruptions. Our monitoring center employs an Avaya Aura 6.3 Server Version 11 with dual processors and redundant fiber optic links between carriers. Use of five national providers and three local providers at each facility creates unsurpassed redundancy.
The monitoring center’s primary power for the telecommunication system is DC, and is supported by two uninterruptible power supplies and dual Caterpillar generators. This investment in the best available telecommunications technology virtually guarantees that your calls will get through, no matter what the circumstances.
Redundant Communications
Each facility employs a multi-layer alarm processing system redundancy built on a multi-gigabit fiber optic network communicating via Cisco 2950 or 3750 hubs, dual Cisco Catalyst 6509 or 6513 core switches and dual Cisco Nexus 9516 core switches.
One – Two – Three Times the Reliability
Our center offers TRIPLE telecommunications back-up. Utilizing four national service providers (MCI, PaeTec, Sprint and AT&T) as well as a pair of local providers, their multiple T-3 circuits from each telecom provider enter the monitoring facility through a fiber optic Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) architecture: One provider’s two T-3s enter from one access, while another enters the center’s network from a separate point with its own independent T-3s. It is mission-critical reliability with triple back-up.
Computer Network Redundancy
No expense has been spared to ensure that the computer systems handling your critical information have an uncompromising level of security. Multi-layered alarm processing redundancy is built on a full gigabit fiber optic backbone. Workstations communicate via Cisco 2950 series hubs with redundant fiber optic links, connected to a pair of Cisco Catalyst 6509 core switches with duplicated processor and power options package. Two IBM 7025-6F1 AIX servers with dual gigabit network cards and dual power supplies maintain real-time RAID 10 lockstep mirroring.
Additionally, six IBM F50 AIX servers minimize the main server’s non-critical task loads. Two servers continually update data at the application level for quadruple redundancy.
Network Security & Crypto Server
Today we worry about more than power outages affecting information networks. Physical security is no longer enough. Our Monitoring Center utilizes the best network security available to protect all data communications. Network security includes dual NetWolves WolfPac firewall servers—impenetrable to outsiders and redundant Blue Ridge crypto servers that create a VPN “cryptographic tunnel” for external, remote access.
The Monitoring Center’s servers additionally run anti-spyware and anti-virus applications to ensure that all data and information systems are secure and free of any cyber threats that could interrupt or compromise the network.
Generators
Even our power is backed-up. Dual Caterpillar generators are locked down in an environmentally secured enclosure that protects in every way the custom designed, digitally controlled, fully monitored 600 kw diesel generators. The generators have independent 1,200 gallon fuel tanks and seamless switching so there is never an interruption of power.
Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS)
As an additional layer of reliability the Monitoring Center employs dual Liebert 150 kVA Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS). Each unit is capable of supporting the full critical load of the monitoring facility.