Contact Information: Contact: Chris Whalen Fortress Technologies 813-288-7388 cwhalen@fortresstech.com A.J. Guenther ConnellyWorks, Inc. 703-742-7184 aj@connellyworks.com
Fortress Technologies to Provide Secure Wireless Communications for South Carolina National Guard Mobile Response Teams
Company Enables Secure Voice, Video, and Data Transmissions During Emergency Response Situations
| Source: Fortress Technologies, Inc.
LANSDOWNE, VA--(Marketwire - June 4, 2008) - Fortress Technologies, a leading provider of
secure wireless solutions, today announced that it is integrating its
Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) certified secure wireless
solutions into the South Carolina National Guard's Mobile Response Teams
(MRTs) -- providing communications for the National Guard Task Forces
responsible for responding to any emergency. Working with the 43rd Civil
Support Team (43rd CST), these MRTs will deploy Fortress Secure Wireless
Bridges as part of their wireless solution. MRTs will enable the National
Guard to better prepare, act, and respond during times of emergency.
"It is well documented that the current communications infrastructure is
not always available during major disasters -- both natural and man-made,"
said COL Debra Rose, J-6 for South Carolina. "The goal of this program is
to be able to provide voice, video, and data interactions between first
responders at an incident site and coordinating locations such as state
emergency operations centers. We are in theory developing a National Guard
'Hot Spot' for first responders and others."
As part of the program, Fortress Secure Wireless Bridges will be installed
at armories throughout South Carolina, delivering highly reliable wireless
communications with required FIPS security. Leveraging the Incident
Commander's Communication Command and Control (IC4U) version 2 platform --
one of the most advanced and reliable mobile communications units available
-- MRTs will be able to connect to the Fortress Secure Wireless Bridges,
enabling voice, video, and data capabilities during emergency response or
disaster recovery situations. The project will allow all responding units
to use wireless communications -- while in the vicinity of a wireless
equipped armory -- in a completely secure environment.
Having previously deployed the National Guard's prototype Joint Incident
Site Communications Capability (JISCC) in support of hurricane relief
efforts in Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, David McNamee, the former Director of
Information Management (DOIM) for South Carolina and the first Officer in
Charge (OIC) of the JISCC, highly recommends the Fortress Solution. "I
have used Fortress products for several years and have been very pleased
with their performance and reliability," said McNamee.
"Government agencies are required to use validated secure wireless
solutions for any implementation," said Dana Kuntz, Vice President, Federal
Sales, Fortress. "Fortress delivers robust wireless communications with
uncompromising security to ensure support of our customer's missions. We
supplied certified secure wireless solutions for the JISCC systems and now
support the South Carolina's MRTs. We have extensive past performance in
supporting National Guard and other military wireless implementations and
are pleased to have been selected as the secure wireless provider on this
project."
About Fortress Technologies
Fortress Technologies designs, develops and manufactures products that
allow our customers to deploy secure wireless networks that comply with
stringent government policies. Fortress provides industry-leading security
and wireless technologies that extend the reach of networks, bringing
applications and information to those who need it, when and where they need
it. Fortress enables immediate "on demand" secure voice, video and data
communications virtually anywhere and across all wired or wireless
transports including Wi-Fi (802.11), WiMAX (802.16), free space optics
(FSO), Military RF and satellite. Fortress products are currently deployed
in some of the world's most demanding environments, supporting vital
operations that include deployable communications, disaster recovery and
continuity of operations (DR COOP), perimeter and border security, outdoor
wireless networks, wireless sensor networks, wireless video surveillance
and vehicle networks.
For more information, visit www.fortresstech.com or call 813-288-7388.