A new self-assessment tool is available to 911 authorities and emergency communication centers (ECC) and public safety answering points (PSAP) administrators and oversight personnel.
As state offices work toward implementing Next Generation 911 (NG911) networks, assessing progress can pose challenges, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) notes. Built on feedback received from government, industry, and academia stakeholders, this new self-assessment tool will help ECC and PSAP evaluate a system’s NG911 maturity state and understand the next steps necessary to continue deployment.
The NG911 Self-Assessment Tool is now available online at 911.gov. This easy-to-use checklist establishes a common terminology and identifies key milestones to help 911 call centers understand the multi-year NG911 implementation process. The Tool is a downloadable Microsoft Excel file, which ensures that collected results are only shared with the agency completing the assessment.
The Tool compiles respondents’ answers and categorizes their 911 system into one of five maturity states for NG911 implementation. The results are intended to help agency leadership to: (1) document their 911 system’s current functions and capabilities; (2) strengthen their understanding of NG911 elements; and (3) help outline next steps to transition their system into a fully integrated NG911 network.
Developed by the SAFECOM-National Council of Statewide Interoperability Coordinators (NCSWIC) NG911 Working Group, with support from CISA and the National 911 Program, the Tool was created in response to a recommendation of the Federal Communication Commission’s Task Force on Optimal PSAP Architecture (TFOPA), which advocated for the identification, documentation, and development of resources that will facilitate the transition to NG911.
Paired with the Cyber Risks to Next Generation 911 primer, the Tool can assist 911 agency leadership improve the cybersecurity posture of their system through enhanced planning and the implementation of cyber hygiene best practices. To learn more about the Self-Assessment Tool and other helpful NG911 resources, visit 911.gov.
