Diebold Implements Automated Secure Alarm Protocol

The ASAP Computer-aided dispatch system ensures complete and accurate information transmission.

NORTH CANTON, Ohio – Diebold (NYSE: DBD) is the latest security and alarm monitoring provider to implement the computer-aided dispatch system, Automated Secure Alarm Protocol (ASAP), designed by the Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA) and the Association of Public Safety Communications Officials.

RELATED: Why the ASAP Program Is Important for the Security Industry

The ASAP program is designed to standardize data exchanges between alarm monitoring companies and public safety answering points (PSAP), which can include emergency numbers for police, fire, ambulance, etc.

The ASAP program enables the automated transmission of initial alarm event notification by Diebold’s monitoring center to the local PSAP, event status updates from the PSAP to Diebold, and additional bi-directional updates and communications between the two.

RELATED: Fledgling ASAP Program Showing Promise

“With ASAP, priority alarm signals are processed within seconds, not minutes, ensuring that complete and accurate information is transmitted from the Diebold Monitoring Center to the PSAP every time,” says Damon Kanzler, Diebold electronic security, vice president, centralized services and business processes. “This time savings will improve dispatching services for Diebold customers while reducing the volume of time-consuming alarm calls to local PSAPs and increase our dispatcher productivity.” 

An emerging, next generation protocol, ASAP is currently available in 11 U.S. cities and counties with five others in testing and more on the way. Diebold went live with ASAP in Richmond, Va., on Sept. 9.

“We are excited to have Diebold now transmitting alarm activity through the network and look forward to their expansion into additional cities,” says CSAA President Pam Petrow.

Bill Hobgood, project manager, public safety team department of information technology, for Richmond, says the percentage of alarm notifications transmitted to the city using the ASAP service has increased exponentially with the addition of each new central station to the ASAP program.

“In contrast, the Richmond emergency communications staff are receiving fewer telephone calls from central stations, one of the ASAP goals,” Hobgood says. “This reduction in the 10-digit telephone number call volumes has generated greater customer satisfaction by allowing the 9-1-1 call-takers to focus greater attention on the citizens who dial 9-1-1. Diebold is a welcome addition.”

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