Case Study
Transforming Field Data Access for a European Police Force with a Hybrid Cloud Solution
The game-changing capability is the CTERA Mobile App, which allows officers in the field to access the exact same data on their mobile devices as their colleagues using the in-office edge filers.
CTERA’s cloud-native platform eliminated legacy infrastructure debt, closed ransomware exposure, and freed IT resources to drive growth.
Challenge
Legacy file servers hindered the police force through complex management, poor data sharing, and limited mobility.
Solution
CTERA unified police data, granting field officers secure, mobile access identical to in-office file servers.
Outcome
CTERA transformed police operations by enabling secure mobile reporting and agile team collaboration via unified access.
KEY RESULTS
Enables secure mobile reporting directly from the field
Facilitates agile collaboration across police departments
Unifies data access across mobile devices and office servers
Transforms operations for modern efficiency
INDUSTRY
Law Enforcement
REGION
Central Europe
PRODUCTS
CTERA Intelligent Data Platform
PARTNER
NAS Modernization& Remote Workplace Enablement
The Customer Challenge
The police force’s previous infrastructure, built on traditional file servers, created significant operational friction. The system made it difficult for officers and departments to share data, and its complex management consumed an excessive amount of time the IT team’s time. In an era of modern, responsive policing, the police force was hindered by a legacy system that lacked the capabilities for remote and mobile work.
The primary goal was to find a single, unified solution that could combine traditional file services with modern, secure remote access capabilities (EFSS). The police force needed a platform that could simplify management while empowering officers to be more effective in the field by enabling them to access and create reports from their mobile devices. They also required the agility to quickly establish collaborative cross-departmental workspaces for major events, without depending on IT intervention.
The Solution
The CTERA platform was deployed to create a unified and secure data environment. CTERA Edge Filers were installed at the core police locations, providing high-performance local access. These were integrated with CTERA Drive Share, which extends the same data access to remote and mobile users. The key to the solution is its ability to provide unified access to a single source of data from both the in-office edge filers and the CTERA Mobile App, directly addressing the core challenge of enabling a productive mobile workforce.
The game-changing capability for the customer is the CTERA Mobile App, which allows officers in the field to access the exact same data on their mobile devices as their colleagues using the in-office edge filers. This integration directly addresses the core challenge of enabling a productive mobile workforce for field personnel.
The Result
The decision to select CTERA was driven by the police force’s trusted IT partner, which functions as the outsourced IT department for a government ministry. After a series of deep technical discussions that established trust and credibility, the partner recognized that CTERA could deliver far more than the police force’s initial request to simply maintain existing file services.
While the police force was initially focused on a like-for-like replacement, they were quickly impressed by the new operational possibilities enabled by CTERA’s mobile capabilities. The key differentiator was CTERA’s robust security architecture combined with its unique ability to provide unified access to a single source of data from both edge filers and mobile devices.
This technical advantage was the critical factor in the selection. The deployment has transformed daily operations. Police reports can now be created and filed directly from a mobile device in the field, saving valuable time and eliminating the need to return to the office for paperwork. Furthermore, the platform gives departments the agility to instantly create shared workspaces for collaboration during critical events – independent from IT. The partner now hosts the entire CTERA installation within its own secure environment, providing a modern and secure platform that supports the demands of 21st-century law enforcement.
Key Results & Benefits
- Unified Single Source of Data
Connects in-office CTERA Edge Filers with the CTERA Mobile App, ensuring seamless, identical data access for both remote and station personnel. - Significant IT Time Savings
By moving to a “set-and-forget” solution, RealTime freed its team from the constant chase of infrastructure support. They estimate a time saving of 30% to 40%, which was reinvested into business development and other strategic initiatives.
- Agile, IT-Independent Collaboration
Allows departments to instantly set up shared workspaces for critical events without relying on IT intervention. - Robust Security & Hosted Architecture
Delivers a modern, secure data environment hosted within the trusted partner’s infrastructure to safely support law enforcement needs.
About RealTime Computing Technology (RealTime)
