Tag: critical

Hollister Ballina transforms into ‘epicentre of global expertise’ with €80m investment

Hollister Incorporated, a global leader in ostomy, continence, wound care and critical care products has announced an €80m R&D investment and a digital transformation project that will create approximately 50 new jobs in Ballina.

The multimillion-euro investment aims to elevate Ballina into a global epicentre of expertise through novel device design and extensive site-wide training, setting a benchmark for digital transformation within Hollister’s global network.

This project is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.

Minister for Social Protection and Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht  Dara Calleary TD said: “This is a terrific day for Ballina and North Mayo with the announcement of 50 additional jobs for the region. Hollister is more than just a manufacturing plant in Ballina; it is one of the mainstays of our community. Today, second and third generations of families are employed there boosting the local economy and contributing to the everyday life of the town. I want to pay credit to Shane Caher and all of the staff in Hollister who have dedicated themselves to Ballina and to the West of Ireland but also to all of the past Hollister management and staff who’s work, and commitment is the foundation of the plant’s success today. Finally, I would like to acknowledge  IDA  Ireland for their continued support to Hollister and across Mayo. I very much look forward to what the next 50 years will bring for Hollister and Ballina”

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Alan Dillon TD, said: “This €80 million investment by Hollister Inc. is very welcome news. It is a powerful endorsement of Ballina’s skilled workforce and Ireland’s reputation as a hub for innovation in healthcare manufacturing. To see a long-standing employer, like Hollister, continue to grow and evolve through cutting-edge research and digital transformation is very encouraging. The creation of 50 new high-quality jobs will also bring economic and social benefits to the region. On behalf of the Irish Government, I thank Hollister for its continued commitment to Ballina and the West of Ireland, and I wish the team there the very best for the future and many more years of success here in Co. Mayo.”

Founded in 1921 in Illinois, the US MedTech manufacturer has been part of the fabric of Ballina since 1976, where it now employs almost 1000 people.

Hollister is currently recruiting in the areas of Engineering, Data Science and Business Services.  To explore opportunities, visit Career Opportunities | Hollister IE

“We are thrilled to announce this significant milestone for Hollister Incorporated. Our commitment to innovation and excellence continues to drive us forward, and this investment in our research program and digital transformation project is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our entire team,” said Shane Caher, Senior Director of Plant Operations and General Manager. “We look forward to the exciting opportunities that lie ahead as we continue to deliver on Our Mission to make life more rewarding and dignified for those who use our products and services.”

IDA Ireland CEO Michael Lohan said: “Since 1976, Hollister has been creating jobs and investment in Co. Mayo.  In the intervening near 50 years, Hollister has again and again committed to and delivered on its ambitions for its Irish operations.  Supporting Hollister and companies across IDA Ireland’s client portfolio with R&D investment and digital transformation endeavours sits right at the heart of Adapt Intelligently: A Strategy for Sustainable Growth and Innovation 2025-29.  I wish to congratulate Hollister and assure them of IDA Ireland’s continued support.”

HighPoint’s Half-Length NVMe AICs empower compact systems with true x16 Storage Performance

In the ever-evolving landscape of high-performance computing, space efficiency, and raw speed are often at odds. However, HighPoint Technologies is changing the game with its new Rocket 7604A and Rocket 1604A PCIe Gen5 NVMe AICs, which deliver true x16 storage performance in a half-length, compact form factor. These solutions are ideal for small form factor tower servers, rackmount chassis, and edge computing environments where space is limited, but performance must remain uncompromised.

Designed for modern workloads that demand high-speed, high-capacity storage, the Rocket 7604A and Rocket 1604A enable systems to directly host up to 64TB of NVMe storage without the need for internal drive bays or additional cooling components. This makes them a perfect fit for edge computing, AI, and data-intensive applications where every inch of space matters.

Server-Grade NVMe AICs for Maximum Flexibility

Both the Rocket 7604A and Rocket 1604A are server-grade PCIe Add-In Cards (AICs) that support up to 8x off-the-shelf M.2 2280 SSDs, regardless of their speed or capacity. This flexibility allows users to tailor their storage configurations to specific needs, whether it’s high-speed read/write for AI training or large capacity for data archiving.

The Rocket 7604A and Rocket 1604A are not just about capacity—they deliver real-world performance of up to 56GB/s using just four drives. This is made possible by HighPoint’s advanced PCIe Gen5 switching and RAID technologies, ensuring that storage systems can keep up with the most demanding workloads.

Powerful Cooling for Sustained Performance

One of the biggest challenges in compact systems is thermal management. HighPoint addresses this with self-contained cooling solutions that effectively prevent thermal throttling, even under heavy, sustained I/O operations. This ensures that NVMe SSDs maintain their peak performance without the need for extra cooling devices or complex thermal management setups, making the AICs ideal for edge environments where space and power are limited.

Rocket 1604A Switch AIC: Gen5 Speeds with Native Support

The Rocket 1604A Switch AIC is designed for users who want to leverage PCIe Gen5 speeds without the hassle of software or drivers. It offers simple drop-in installation and is natively supported by modern Windows and Linux platforms, meaning it is automatically recognized and ready to use right out of the box.

With no need for additional software, the Rocket 1604A is perfect for environments that prioritize ease of deployment and simple serviceability.HighPoint’s proven PCIe Switching architecture ensures each M.2 SSD operates at maximum throughput under the most challenging workloads.

Rocket 7604A RAID AIC: Customizable Storage for Critical Applications

For users who need more than just speed—those who require flexibility, performance, and security—the Rocket 7604A RAID AIC offers a powerful solution. It supports RAID 0, 1, and 10 configurations, allowing users to balance speed, redundancy, and data protection according to their specific needs.

The Rocket 7604A’s Active Hardware Sensor Monitoring solution and a Comprehensive NVMe Storage Management Suite, give administrators real-time insights into drive health, temperature, and performance. These features are essential for environments where data integrity and system reliability are paramount.

In Summary

Whether it’s for AI model training, real-time data analytics, or media production, the Rocket 7604A and Rocket 1604A deliver the storage performance and dependability that professionals need in a compact, easy to integrate add-in-card form factor. As the demand for edge computing and portable high-performance systems continues to rise, HighPoint’s half-length NVMe AICs are setting a new benchmark for storage innovation.

Learn More

Rocket 7604A – PCIe Gen5 x16 to 4x M.2 NVMe RAID Adapter

Product page: https://www.highpoint-tech.com/rocket-7604a-individual-page/

Buy Now: https://www.highpoint-tech.com/product-page/rocket-7604a

Rocket 1604A – PCIe Gen5 x16 to 4x M.2 NVMe Switch AIC

Product page: https://www.highpoint-tech.com/rocket-1604a-individual-page/

Buy Now: https://www.highpoint-tech.com/product-page/rocket-1604a

Nokia and Motorola Solutions announce drone technology integration for public safety and mission-critical industries

Nokia and Motorola Solutions announced a drone technology integration to launch an AI-enhanced turnkey, automated drone-in-a-box solution that sets a new standard for first responders and mission-critical industries, offering enhanced situational awareness, streamlined remote operations, and faster decision-making.

The solution integrates Nokia Drone Networks with Motorola Solutions’ CAPE drone software to help transform public safety and industrial operations, enhancing operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability.

Dispatching drones ahead of first responders enables early assessment of a situation’s severity, helping to support efficient resource allocation. The new solution enables public safety and mission-critical industries to remotely dispatch drones from one or multiple operation centers at a moment’s notice to assess emergencies and hazards while also receiving AI-powered intelligence that can inform and accelerate decisions to help keep workers, property, and premises safer.

CAPE software’s flight-safe features adjust the drone’s path to avoid obstacles, stay within a geofenced area, and adapt to changing terrain altitude, with assistive AI helping operators analyze real-time data. Nokia’s drone-in-a-box technology connects via 4G/LTE or 5G networks for broader reach and seamless remote operation beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS).

Drone as First Responder (DFR) programs have demonstrated an increase in first responder safety by providing tactical intelligence, enabling better coordination, oversight and transparency in operations. For critical infrastructure industries like oil and gas, ports, utilities, mining, energy and manufacturing, the technology’s BVLOS and remote operation capabilities help to enhance industrial worker safety and lower the costs of operating hard-to-reach sites like offshore wind farms. Multiple drone-in-a-box systems can serve as a sustainable alternative to helicopters, significantly reducing carbon emissions.

Roxana Kennedy, Chief of Police at Chula Vista Police Department in California, stated: “In 2018, we created and developed the world’s first public safety Drone as First Responder program in partnership with Motorola Solutions, utilizing their CAPE drone software. Since then, we’ve successfully flown over 21,000 missions. Our DFR program has been instrumental in critical life-and-death situations by providing aerial awareness or helping officers de-escalate incidents by delivering real-time, vital information.”

Jehan Wickramasuriya, corporate vice president of AI and Intelligence Platforms at Motorola Solutions said: “We’re innovating where our customers need us most to bring them better intelligence for faster decisions. This drone-in-a-box solution furthers our commitment to drone innovation that seamlessly fits within our customers’ current workflows to give those charged with our safety actionable live-stream insights while simplifying evidence collection.”

Stephan Litjens, Vice President of CNS Enterprise Campus Edge Solutions at Nokia, said: “We are proud to collaborate with an innovator like Motorola Solutions in this significant step toward a more mature and sustainable drone industry for the benefit of our customers, workers, and community. Together, we are setting technology best practices in drone connectivity and AI. With an open API architecture that facilitates easy integration with third-party applications, and other solutions like Nokia’s MX Grid, Nokia Drones-in-a-Box and Motorola Solutions’ CAPE software, we are transforming drones into daily helpers for public safety and mission-critical operations.”

Nokia Drone Networks are compliant with international industry standards and offer long-lasting technology with upgradable components that reduce electronic waste.

Understanding Critical Project Information: Practical Work Tips for Successful Management

Managing a project effectively requires understanding and utilizing critical information at every stage. Whether it’s during planning, execution, or evaluation, the ability to organize and act on data can significantly influence the project’s outcome. Success in project management hinges not only on meeting deadlines but also on aligning the project’s goals with broader organizational objectives. By mastering essential strategies and leveraging modern tools, project managers can improve efficiency, ensure team collaboration, and achieve consistent results. This article offers practical tips to help you navigate challenges, streamline workflows, and drive success, no matter the scale of your project.

Setting Clear Objectives

Every successful project begins with well-defined objectives. These serve as the foundation for decision-making and resource allocation. Take time to align your goals with your organization’s priorities and ensure all stakeholders understand the project’s purpose. Use measurable benchmarks to assess progress and adjust strategies when needed.

Incorporating digital tools can help streamline this process. Project management software, for instance, offers templates for goal-setting and tracking progress, saving time and ensuring consistency. This clarity not only motivates your team but also ensures everyone remains focused on the end goal.

Organizing Project Information

Effective project management depends on how well you can organize and access critical information. Organizing data efficiently prevents delays, reduces errors, and facilitates better decision-making. Begin by centralizing all project documentation, including timelines, budgets, and task lists, into a single platform. A useful strategy is to use platforms like Factor, which can help managers prioritize and distribute workload effectively. By enabling a clear overview of tasks and deadlines, these tools empower teams to stay on track and reduce communication breakdowns.

Managing Resources Wisely

Resource management is a cornerstone of project success. This includes allocating finances, personnel, and time judiciously to ensure every aspect of the project receives the attention it requires. Start by creating a detailed resource plan that anticipates potential bottlenecks and identifies areas requiring additional support.

Monitoring resource usage throughout the project lifecycle is equally critical. Leverage technology to track resource consumption and adjust allocations as the project evolves. By maintaining oversight, you can prevent the overuse of resources, cut unnecessary expenses, and boost team efficiency.

Effective Communication Strategies

Strong communication is vital for successful project management. Keeping stakeholders informed and engaged fosters trust and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings. Regular updates, whether through meetings, emails, or project dashboards, ensure that everyone is aligned.

Tailor your communication style to suit different audiences. While detailed reports may be necessary for senior management, concise summaries can be more effective for frontline team members. Furthermore, encourage open dialogue within the team to address challenges quickly and maintain a collaborative environment.

Prioritizing Tasks and Deadlines

A common challenge in project management is juggling multiple tasks and deadlines. Prioritization is the key to overcoming this hurdle. Begin by categorizing tasks based on urgency and importance. Focus your resources on high-priority tasks while scheduling lower-priority ones for later. Use project management tools to visualize your task list and identify potential overlaps or conflicts. These platforms often include Gantt charts or Kanban boards, which can provide a clear timeline for task completion and keep your team aligned.

Adapting to Challenges

No project is immune to setbacks. Whether it’s unforeseen delays, budget constraints, or scope changes, adaptability is crucial. Prepare for challenges by building flexibility into your project plan. Include contingency budgets, realistic timelines, and alternative strategies to minimize disruption.

When challenges arise, approach them with a problem-solving mindset. Involve your team in brainstorming solutions, as diverse perspectives often lead to innovative ideas. Remember that adaptability is not just about reacting to problems but also about learning from them to improve future project planning.

Measuring and Reporting Success

As the project nears completion, evaluating its success becomes a top priority. Establish criteria for success early in the planning phase, such as achieving goals within budget or meeting deadlines. Regularly monitor progress against these benchmarks and report findings to stakeholders.

Invest in reporting tools that simplify data visualization, making it easier to present complex information clearly. Effective reporting not only demonstrates the value of the project but also highlights areas for improvement, setting the stage for more successful projects in the future.

Understanding and managing critical project information is essential for achieving successful outcomes and maintaining stakeholder satisfaction. From defining clear objectives to adopting tools for seamless task management, every aspect of a project requires deliberate attention. Effective resource allocation, strong communication, and adaptability form the foundation of successful project management. By applying these strategies, you can create a streamlined process that not only meets goals but also fosters growth and innovation. Embracing a proactive approach ensures your projects consistently deliver value while setting the stage for long-term success in a dynamic business environment.

API Monitoring: The Unsung Hero of the Digital Economy

While APIs have become the lifeblood of modern applications, ensuring their optimal performance and reliability is often overlooked. This is where API monitoring comes into play. It’s the unsung hero that guarantees the smooth operation of your digital ecosystem.

The Critical Role of API Monitoring

Imagine your business as a high-performance car. The engine is powerful, but without a dashboard to monitor its vitals, you’re driving blind. API monitoring is that dashboard for your digital operations. It provides real-time visibility into the performance, availability, and overall health of your APIs.

By closely tracking API metrics, businesses can identify potential issues before they escalate into major problems. This proactive approach prevents service disruptions, maintains customer satisfaction, and safeguards revenue.

Key Benefits of API Monitoring

  • Improved Performance: By pinpointing performance bottlenecks, API monitoring helps optimize response times and enhance user experience.
  • Increased Reliability: Proactive identification and resolution of issues minimize downtime and service disruptions.
  • Enhanced Security: Anomaly detection can uncover suspicious activities, protecting your APIs and sensitive data.
  • Data-Driven Decision Making: Comprehensive performance metrics inform strategic decisions about API optimization and scaling.

The API Monitoring Landscape

The API monitoring market is rapidly expanding as businesses recognize the critical role it plays in digital success. While specific data points may vary, the overall trend is clear: API monitoring is a growing necessity.

  • Market Growth: Similar to the API management market, API monitoring is experiencing substantial growth driven by the increasing complexity of digital ecosystems.
  • Key Features: Robust API monitoring solutions offer a wide range of features, including performance metrics, error tracking, security alerts, and integration with other monitoring tools.

Conclusion: A Cornerstone of Digital Success

API monitoring is no longer a luxury; it’s a strategic imperative. By investing in a comprehensive API monitoring solution, businesses can ensure the reliability, performance, and security of their digital operations. It’s the foundation for delivering exceptional customer experiences and driving business growth in the digital age.

TCS to Fashion New Partner Landscape for Primark to Transform and Grow its Operations

(TCS), a global leader in IT services, consulting, and business solutions, has extended its partnership with Primark, a leading international fashion retailer across 17 countries in Europe and the US. Over the next five years, TCS will help transform Primark’s technology operations to support the retailer’s ambitious plans for global growth.

TCS has been working with Primark since 2016, establishing itself as a trusted partner to the retailer. As well as driving business-critical integration programmes and stabilising core platforms for the retailer, TCS has also improved cybersecurity capabilities, improving stability and reliability of processes and systems.

As part of this expanded partnership, TCS will help transform Primark’s technology operating environment to make it more resilient, reliable, and efficient. By supporting Primark’s transformation journey, TCS will help reduce time-to-market for the retailer, aligning with its strategies for future growth. TCS will help Primark adopt a more agile and product-based operating model by enabling automation through intelligent automation and DevOps technologies. This new operating model will integrate and optimise application development, testing and maintenance processes.

Andrew Brothers, Chief Information Officer, Primark, said, “To help support our ambitious growth plans we’re expanding our partnership with TCS to build a robust, resilient, and reliable IT operating environment to become a more efficient, technology-led global organization with the agility to quickly adapt to changing demands and requirements in a fast-paced industry. Working with TCS will provide us with the ongoing operational stability and accountability needed to support our business to scale. This will allow us to respond to market trends and customer preferences in a timely manner, ensuring that we continue to deliver quality products at the best value for our customers.”

Primark’s new operating model will also be aligned to business functions and driven by their priorities, providing Primark with a comprehensive, real-time view of its technology, business systems and processes to enhance overall performance and enable the agile ecosystem required to support the organisation’s rapid growth plans.

Shekar Krishnan, Vice President & Head of Retail – UK and Europe, TCS, said, “The fashion industry is continually modernising its entire value chain—from conceptualisation, to design, to production and retailing – with innovation-led initiatives to achieve environmental, social, and governance goals. We’re thrilled to support Primark’s mission to offer affordable fashion for everyone and its global vision for growth.” 

TCS works with 200 of the region’s best-known and most-loved businesses, including British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Sainsbury’s, Nationwide, M&S, Asda and Boots. With its deep industry expertise and an employee strength of 23,000 people in the UK and Ireland, TCS holds a leadership position in software and IT services in the UK and Ireland market. Operating in Ireland since 2001, TCS services over 28 global and local clients from its Dublin headquarters and Global Delivery Centre based in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

4 Surefire Methods To Follow If A Household-Critical Appliance Fails

Most of us feel annoyance if certain tech issues happen with our smartphones, our laptops, our televisions, or our games consoles. It’s another thing entirely when an appliance that we rely on goes down. For example, if our oven breaks, our washing machine is throwing up error codes, or our smart boiler stops working, this can have a tangible impact on how you live from day to day, and that can be a problem. Sure, you could likely do a few days without hot water, but ultimately a fix needs to be found.

Now, it’s important to find professional help where you most need it. No one would suggest you repair a boiler from the inside out yourself unless you have qualifications in electrical work or plumbing, because the safety risk is too high. But if the issues are surface level or there may be common fixes, it’s worth considering a few steps you can take. If they work, great! If not, call in the professionals.

With that in mind, let’s consider four surefire methods to follow if a household-critical appliance goes down:

Assess The Issue’s Severity

It’s easy to go gung-ho into fix-everything mode, because fixing the appliances in your house is fun, and your consumer right. But before attempting any fixes, it’s wise to inspect the severity of the issue. If the appliance is giving off strange noises, producing smoke, or posing an immediate safety hazard (smells are a bad sign too), it’s best to avoid the urge to tamper with it. 

In these cases, you should absolutely unplug the appliance (turn off the fusebox if you’re worried), and seek professional assistance. However, if the problem seems minor, such as a display error or a temporary malfunction, you may be able to resolve it yourself.

Refer To The Manual

Most appliances will come with a user manual that offers helpful troubleshooting information. Not all information is there for every issue, but in general you can consult the manual for guidance on common issues and potential solutions. If you don’t have the physical manual, you may be able to find it online by searching for the appliance model and “user manual,” sometimes downloadable as a PDF. 

In this case, you may see a basic fix, or even identify an error on your part. Perhaps you accidentally placed an appliance under a too-heavy load (like cramming many super-hard vegetables in a blender and wearing out the motor), or maybe the fuse was overloaded and simply blew. Either way, the manual can help with basic issues, and also give you safety advice, like never removing a certain panel unless you’re a qualified electrician.

Check Certain Error Codes Online

If your appliance is displaying an error code and you can’t find particular help for it in the manual you can try searching for it online. Most manufacturers have online resources or forums where users share their experiences and solutions for specific error codes. Some common issues may even be carefully outlined by third parties, such as dealing with the common Samsung SUD error code for washing machines. 

Through this insight, you might find helpful tips or workarounds that could resolve the issue without the need for that annoying professional callout charge. That being said, stay cautious when following advice from unofficial sources, as improper fixes could potentially cause further damage. Check the site for their credentials, and if a vague forum post seems to assert something over the manual, it’s probably best not to try it.

Work On A Substitute For Now

While you’re fixing the issue or waiting for a professional repair, it’s wise to consider temporary substitutes to keep your life on track. For example, if your washing machine is out of order, you could head to the local laundromat, wear that pair of jeans once or twice more than you wanted to, or just hand wash the items (don’t worry, you’re hardly going to be the first). 

If your oven is malfunctioning, you can easily purchase a simple slow cooker, hot plate, microwave, or outdoor grill depending on your tastes or how long you expect the issue to last. This means that the annoyance of dealing with the issue is halved, because it’s not materially impacting your life. Then, the focus of the repair is mostly about getting the value out of the appliance you’ve purchased, or referring it back to a warranty and repair program for a full refund. That in itself can be a comfortable place to start.

WIth this advice, you’ll be certain to follow household-critical appliance maintenance care, while still living your life well despite this frustration. It will also refine your skills as a general homeowner, and there’s something positive to be said for that.

Irish firms urged to prioritise ‘critical trio’ of cybersecurity

Ransomware defence, employee awareness training and encrypted backup of mission-critical data are the ‘critical trio’ of areas that the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) is urging firms to address during European Cybersecurity Month.

Denis Ryan, who has global responsibility for information security management certification systems with NSAI and is a certified Lead Auditor, believes that businesses must become cyber-resilient. He said: “Firms often get caught out by threats they didn’t know existed – the unknown unknowns – so it’s important to stay informed and keep upskilling your IT team so it has the capabilities to cope with whatever threats arise. Regardless of the size of your business or the sector in which you operate, cybersecurity needs to be a priority.”

Ryan was speaking at the launch of NSAI’s free webinar series for organisations interested in certification to information security management systems. The new series, featuring Ryan and other subject matter experts, is called ‘Let’s talk about information security’ and the webinars take place on October 24th, November 1st, November 30th and December 6th.

Ryan recommends that firms look at implementing best practice, so they can evolve as needed to face down emerging threats: “For those unsure of where to start, the critical trio of areas to address are ransomware defence, employee awareness training (especially for non-IT staff) and encrypted backup of mission-critical data, as you can revert to this if you have a breach.”

He added: “Continuous awareness training is vital so that all employees understand that everyone has a role to play by being able to recognise phishing attempts and following security protocols. It’s also important to factor in cybersecurity to your change management protocol, for example. How will new tools or processes affect privacy, record control and other aspects of cyber-resilience for your business?”

Other areas to prioritise, according to Ryan, include vulnerability scanning, patching, having good authentication and password management, and being able to offer incident response plans, – meaning that if something untoward happens, the firm has a plan for handling it.

He said: “For Irish businesses, being smart about cybersecurity pays dividends on multiple fronts. First, when your cybersecurity is up to date, you prevent the financial loss that comes with any breach. Cybersecurity issues such as data theft or service disruption regularly cause companies to incur significant financial losses.”

He added: “It’s a good time to plan ahead and think strategically, as the European Union will be introducing multiple new cybersecurity directives as it focuses on a new cybersecurity certification framework.”

NSAI’s ‘Let’s talk about information security’ webinars are free to attend and bookings can be made at www.nsai.ie/27001.

BlackBerry partners with Samsung: joint offering optimised for first responders and front-line workers

Today, every organisation must be prepared to manage critical events, including operational disruptions, infrastructure outages, natural disasters, and pandemics. Organisations are not only challenged to maintain continuity of operations during such events, but also to ensure the care and safety of their employees. Those tasked with managing these events – or those whose job functions take them into dangerous settings – require tools that help them be prepared for all scenarios.

BlackBerry and Samsung, both veterans of keeping critical information flowing and secure, have partnered to address these needs by delivering the BlackBerry® comprehensive CEM (Critical Event Management) solution using rugged Samsung Galaxy® devices. The joint offering is optimised for first responders and front-line workers.

BlackBerry Alert and BlackBerry AtHoc will improve communications and productivity by utilising two programmable keys on the Samsung Galaxy XCover Pro. With a single click, front-line workers can easily access essential features critical to their job and safety. The platforms also leverage device management capabilities through Samsung Knox to allow IT managers to monitor and configure application features on behalf of front-line workers, simplifying deployment and support.

Paired with BlackBerry CEM, the Galaxy XCover Pro is an important new tool for protecting and empowering front-line workers, as well as those tasked with managing critical events in industries where employees are often placed in harm’s way.

Darren Spurgeon, business change manager for Greater Manchester Police, which currently uses BlackBerry’s AtHoc technologies, commented, “With BlackBerry AtHoc, the user experience of cascading reliable incident communications has been significantly improved. A single operator is now able to notify all key responders in less than 10 minutes, at the click of a button.  Collaborations such as this help us in getting time-critical information to the mobile devices carried by Officers, reliably and securely, further supporting the work of emergency response services.”

“For more than a decade, Samsung has provided enterprises with a military-grade device security and management platform, Samsung Knox, to protect secret and confidential information and enable productivity-driven frontline use cases through advanced hardware-level controls,” commented James Pak, Vice President and Head of B2B Partnerships at Mobile Communications Business, Samsung Electronics. “The XCover Pro’s ability to withstand the harshest conditions, coupled with the integration of BlackBerry Alert and AtHoc, ensures employee safety and provides a secure and reliable platform for critical incident management, making it the ideal device for frontline employees.”   

Strong partnership for optimised security

“Critical events are not rare, and unfortunately, it often takes a potentially dangerous incident to prompt an organisation to develop plans and processes that will lessen the impact of future events”, said Hans-Peter Bauer, Senior Vice President EMEA at BlackBerry”. “Progressive organisations proactively implement CEM processes for planning, responding, and recovering from incidents, as well as for ensuring employee wellness. Together, BlackBerry and Samsung have created a secure end-to-end platform for managing critical events and keeping workers safe, even in the most demanding environments.”