Power companies, telecommunications providers, fleet companies and other interested private businesses in Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic states may get some help in being able to securely share information during emergencies.

The non-profit technical trade association Transglobal Secure Collaboration Program was awarded a pilot grant from the Department of Homeland Security to develop secure and robust solutions for federation and information sharing for emergency personnel responding to disaster events.

TSCP says during emergencies, key information is often not shared between the private sector, federal, state and local decision makers, and emergency management officials due to a “lack of trust.”

In support of Homeland Security’s mission to develop advanced cyber security solutions, TSCP has teamed with the non-profit All Hazards Consortium for the pilot grant. TSCP says the pilot will test the management of rights and authorities in support of securing data that is being transported within, and across, first responder systems.

“This pilot project is the culmination of many efforts and lessons learned over the past two years as the government agencies and businesses in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions have been planning and sharing operational information together in both ‘blue sky’ and ‘dark sky’ days,” said Tom Moran, executive director of the All Hazards Consortium.

“Beginning with Super Storm Sandy, the All Hazards Consortium has been working with government and the private sector to find ways to secure and share the private sector’s sensitive operational information with specific state and local government operational personnel in order to expedite power restoration and supply chain movement. If successful, this low cost, proven concept can easily be expanded.”

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