The 10 Top Law Enforcement Events for Government in 2025

Posted on by Lacey Wean

This year is packed with must-attend events for Law Enforcement and Government professionals looking to stay ahead of the latest technology trends.

Carahsoft’s Law Enforcement Technology Team gathered a list of the best events for law enforcement and Government officials to attend. These events offer valuable insights, hands-on learning and opportunities to explore cutting-edge solutions from our trusted vendor partners.

Here are the top events to watch for in 2025 and beyond.

We look forward to connecting with you.

National Sheriff’s Association Annual Conference

June 23-25 | Fort Lauderdale, FL | In-Person Event

The National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) Annual Conference is the largest of its kind. It features a tradeshow displaying products and equipment relevant to every facet of police work, jails, prisoner transport and courtroom security. This four-day event includes highly curated seminars and educational content covering cutting-edge subjects for Law Enforcement at all levels.

Look out for NSA’s seminar schedules, estimated to have 70 different sessions covering 11 different tracks.

Carahsoft will have a booth at this event, where several of our vendor partners—Cellebrite, Check Point and Achievelt— will be demoing their solutions and sharing their educational content. We will also be hosting a networking reception from 6:30-8:30 pm with several of our vendor partners, welcoming conference attendees for food, drinks, networking, and more!

Florida Sheriffs Association Summer Conference

July 27-30 | ChampionsGate, FL | In-Person Event

The Sheriffs Summer Conference, usually held in central or south Florida, is the largest event of the year, providing participants with continuing education opportunities, networking, sharing of best practices, association news, award recognition and important updates in the field of Law Enforcement.

Attendees should look for sessions that cover legal affairs and Law Enforcement technology.

Carahsoft will be exhibiting at this event, and we’re excited to welcome you to join us to learn about our leading Law Enforcement technology vendor partners.

National Homeland Security Conference

August 25-28 | Washington, D.C | In-Person Event

The National Homeland Security Conference brings together professionals in Homeland Security, Law Enforcement and Fire and Emergency Management. Including officials in Federal agencies, nonprofit agencies, business owners, universities and decision makers, attendees will learn about emerging trends in homeland security and see the new equipment and technology available to support their mission.

Carahsoft maintains strategic partnerships with Mark43, Cellebrite, Magnet Forensics and AWS. These collaborations enable Carahsoft to offer a comprehensive range of law enforcement technology and services to the public sector. By leveraging the strengths of these industry giants, Carahsoft ensures that law enforcement agencies have access to cutting-edge technology for enhanced security solutions. For more information, visit Law Enforcement Technology Providers | Carahsoft.

Major County Sheriffs of America 2025 Annual Conference

September 22-24 | Dallas, TX | In-person Event

As a professional association representing the largest Sheriff’s offices in the United States, the MCSA is dedicated to promoting a greater understanding of Law Enforcement strategies. Working alongside corporate partners and Public Sector agencies, the MCSA aims to advance legislation to enhance the safety of the community.

As a proud Sergeant-level partner, Carahsoft will be attending this conference to learn, collaborate and network with the Law Enforcement community.

IACP Annual Conference

October 18-21 | Denver, CO | In-Person Event

The IACP Annual Conference is a leading event for Law Enforcement executives, featuring in-depth educational sessions on critical topics such as leadership, policy development and community relations. It also includes an extensive exhibit hall showcasing advanced technologies and solutions, drawing thousands of police chiefs, commanders and public safety professionals from around the world for training, networking and collaboration on modern policing challenges.

Carahsoft is thrilled to be exhibiting at IACP Annual Conference. Be sure to stop by our booth to see live demos from our vendor partners as they showcase how their technology is helping Law Enforcement today.

2026 Law Enforcement Innovation Summit

This annual event, hosted by Carahsoft, unites relevant vendors, partners and Law Enforcement customers for a day of panels, speaking sessions and networking. Attendees learn about an array of Law Enforcement and cybersecurity related topics, including legislative updates concerning grant funding in the field, how to maximize technology in a privacy-conscious society, the modernization of Law Enforcement technology surrounding forensic investigations and the cloud, tips for collaboration and information sharing among the industry and the current cybercrime landscape.

In 2026, the Law Enforcement Innovation Summit will convene professionals from across the law enforcement community for a day of insightful panels, expert-led sessions and valuable networking opportunities. A central focus will be the evolving role of AI in law enforcement—balancing innovation with caution as agencies address the risks, responsibilities and the pressing need to stay ahead of a rapidly changing crime landscape. Visit our Law Enforcement website in 2026 for more information on this event!

Homeland Security Week

Leading experts from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Law Enforcement industry will join at Institute Defense Government Advancement’s 19th Homeland Security Week Summit in 2026 addressing pressing security challenges. The event highlights advancements in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity, biometrics, border security, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, infrastructure resilience and local Law Enforcement strategies. Featuring keynote sessions, expert panels and networking opportunities, this summit enables attendees to connect with leaders shaping the future of homeland security.

Homeland Security Week provides a valuable opportunity to highlight leading law enforcement technology solutions and the innovative work of top industry partners. Visit our website to learn more about our law enforcement technology partners and Carahsoft’s 2026 involvement.

ISC West

March 23-27, 2026 | Las Vegas, NV | In-Person Event

The International Security Conference and Exposition (ISC West) is a security industry event focused on the latest advancements in physical security and cybersecurity technologies. The conference provides a platform for public safety and security professionals and industry leaders to network. With four days full of comprehensive sessions and product demonstrations, ISC West highlights emerging trends in drones and robotics, smart homes, cybersecurity and connected Internet of Things (IoT) and more in the fields of access control, video surveillance and integrated security solutions.

Carahsoft looks forward to engaging and meeting with our law enforcement customers at ISC West in 2026. This event will feature a range of exhibitors showcasing innovative solutions and educational content from leading technology providers supporting the law enforcement community.

Border Security Expo 2026

May 5-6 , 2026| Phoenix, AZ | In-Person Event

This annual event unites Government officials, Law Enforcement and industry experts to explore cutting-edge technologies, policies and solutions for securing national borders and ensuring public safety. Designed specifically around the border community, this expo enables attendees to engage in critical discussions and address the challenges and advancements in border protection and security.

The event will feature leading technology providers demonstrating their solutions and sharing educational content. For more information on how to get involved in Carahsoft Law Enforcement events, please visit our website.

IACP Tech 2026

May 14-21, 2026 | Fort Worth, TX | In-Person Event

The International Association of Chiefs of Police Technology Conference (IACP Tech) focuses on the integration and advancement of technology in Law Enforcement, offering specialized training and discussions on topics such as data management, cybersecurity and digital policing tools. This event brings together Law Enforcement leaders, IT professionals and technology experts, providing a platform for exploring the latest innovations and solutions that enhance police operations and public safety.

The event will feature a range of exhibitors, including leading technology providers showcasing their solutions and presenting informative content to attendees. Carahsoft intends to exhibit at IACP Tech in 2026.

Check out one more event:

AFCEA LEAPS

TBD | Washington, D.C | In-Person Event

The AFCEA LEAPS Technology Forum is an event focused on advancing technology solutions for Law Enforcement, public safety and homeland security agencies. It brings together industry leaders, Government officials and technology experts to discuss emerging trends, innovative tools and strategies to enhance public safety operations.

The event offers a valuable opportunity for connection between industry and Government, including dedicated networking sessions such as the Evening Reception.

By collaborating with other Public Sector agencies, thought leaders and industry and vendor partners to share the best practices and the latest safety solutions, Law Enforcement can improve its capabilities to combat cyberattacks, protect civilians and maintain national security.

Explore our vendor partners delivering innovative technology solutions for Law Enforcement:

Cellebrite

Mark43

Magnet Forensics

Chainalysis

Verkada

Idemia Public Security

LiveView Technologies

Wrap Technologies

To learn more or get involved in any of the above events please contact us at  LawEnforcementMarketing@Carahsoft.com. For more information on Carahsoft and our industry leading Law Enforcement technology partners’ events, visit our  Law Enforcement solutions portfolio.

The Importance of Data, AI and More Within Law Enforcement at IACP Technology Conference 2025

Posted on by George Vit

The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Technology Conference 2025 is an annual law enforcement conference that hosts public safety professionals and technology thought leaders to discuss new solutions, techniques and trainings to equip the industry for success. With a strong law enforcement portfolio and deep industry ties, Carahsoft offers unmatched insight into the challenges agencies face today.

By bridging the gap between top software providers and law enforcement agencies, Carahsoft’s Law Enforcement Technology Team helps both sworn and civilian personnel streamline operations, enhance decision-making and drive greater efficiency across all aspects of public safety.

Carahsoft and over 20 of our vendors, including Cellebrite, Zebra, Saferwatch, Blackberry and Magnet Forensics, attended and ran demos of their solutions across data management and analytics, artificial intelligence (AI), emerging technology, forensics, and device security.

Here are the 5 most relevant themes featured at the IACP Technology Conference 2025.

Integrating Artificial Intelligence into Law Enforcement

At IACP Tech, discussions centered around integrating AI into law enforcement to increase efficiency while balancing transparency and accountability to real-time threats. In the panel “Transforming Policing with AI: Efficiency, Accuracy and Ethical Considerations for Report Writing,” panelists underscored how AI can streamline administrative tasks, reduce the time officers spend on documentation and improve the overall accuracy and quality of police reports. Speakers also highlighted that the integration of AI must be accompanied by transparency and accountability. They stressed the importance of clearly disclosing when reports are generated or supported by AI to maintain public trust and uphold ethical standards. In the panel “Curb Your AI Through Privacy Impact Assessments,” speaker Nora Kurzova, the State Auditor of the State of Utah Office, explored the ethical implications that come with predictive AI in law enforcement. Kurzova drew attention to bias present in predictive tools, stressing the importance of human oversight to correct potential biases. With rigorous evaluations of the decisions that automated systems enact, law enforcement can ensure fairness and a positive impact on communities.

Carahsoft, IACP 2025, blog, embedded image, 2025

Emerging Technologies in Law Enforcement

For modern criminal investigations, law enforcement faces growing complexity in managing and analyzing mass volumes of digital data. As the volume of data generated by connected devices continues to surge, investigators must adapt software that enables timely and efficient data recovery. Critical evidence can come from a variety of sources, such as Nest cameras, smart rings, thermostats and even gaming consoles. Human augmentation technologies, including smart glasses, brain-computer interfaces and mixed reality devices, were all identified as new frontiers that officers could utilize during investigations. By utilizing unconventional data points as corroborative tools and avenues for new leads, law enforcement can increase its investigative awareness.

Breakthroughs in Digital Forensics

At the panel “Advancements in Criminal Investigations: Increasing Solve Rates with Technology,” speaker Ed O’Carroll, a retired Major of the Crimes Bureau from the Fairfax County Police Department, emphasized the transformative impact of advanced investigative technologies in resolving challenging criminal cases. Advancements in digital forensics, genetic genealogy and rapid DNA testing have all transcended the abilities of law enforcement, enabling the solving of difficult cases. As IT continues to evolve, law enforcement can utilize strategic partnerships with technology organizations to improve its digital forensics capabilities and reduce backlogs. With recent technological breakthroughs, skilled crime analysts and forensic professionals can maximize their potential through these revolutionary tools.

The Importance of Interoperable Data in Public Safety

Law enforcement depends on thorough and accurate analytics to improve and maintain capabilities. In the panel “Breaking the Data Chains: Advocating Open and Interoperable Solutions in Public Safety,” speakers explored the evolving role of data in public safety, with a strong emphasis on the importance of interoperability and open standards. Adopting open data standards enables seamless data exchange across systems and jurisdictions. Panelists called for greater vendor transparency and urged public safety agencies to include open data access provisions in their contracts to avoid vendor lock-in. Ultimately, by strengthening data sharing practices, public safety agencies can enhance operational effectiveness and fulfill mission objectives.

Tailored, Interactive Training with Artificial Intelligence

Law enforcement agencies are increasingly utilizing AI and virtual reality technologies to address resource constraints during training. In the panel “How Your Records Management Process Can Work for You—Leveraging RMS Functional Standards,” speaker Jeff Smythe discussed a statewide effort to revise curriculum by embedding AI tools into courses. By synthesizing practical data and automation, law enforcement can improve training and service quality.

Examples of this include:

Utilizing real-world body camera footage to create simulated scenarios for training

Collecting best practices to develop AI-powered virtual reality scenarios that feature immediate feedback and debriefing capabilities

Implementing automated virtual reality scenarios to train soft skills, such as employee counseling and community engagement

By simulating realistic, frequent tech-enhanced training, employers can significantly improve officer readiness and skill retention. AI and virtual tools offer scalable solutions to deliver consistent, high-quality training in an evolving public safety environment.

As law enforcement professionals handle sensitive and vital information, the protection of that information and data is essential to carrying out fair and accurate investigations and procedures. Through tailored training, data analytics and AI, law enforcement can improve capabilities and focus resources on protecting civilians.

To learn more about public safety related technology, visit Carahsoft’s law enforcement portfolio to explore solutions showcased at IACP Technology Conference. For additional research into the key takeaways that industry and Government leaders presented at IACP Technology Conference, view Carahsoft’s full synopsis of key sessions from the tradeshow. 

Mobilizing Law Enforcement Agencies Through Technology and Security Innovations at IACP 2023

Posted on by George Vit

Law enforcement professionals provide a crucial function in society. By leveraging modern technology advancements, agencies can achieve that quality of service and keep the American people safe from ongoing threats. The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Annual Conference and Exposition 2023 offered law enforcement agencies and security professionals the opportunity to learn from experts in the top fields, develop partnerships and get access to technologies that will aid in navigating the current landscape.

Securing Sensitive Law Enforcement Data

A reoccurring challenge for law enforcement is an increase in ransomware attacks against them. Agencies reported a significant jump in attacks in the last two years, from 34% of departments reporting a ransomware hack in 2021, to nearly 69% in 2023. The average ransomware payment increased 500% in 2023 to over $1 million and over 25% of these attacks began with a phishing or malicious email. To combat this, agencies and departments must strengthen their cybersecurity postures and align with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. Speakers at IACP provided five themes of questions agencies should ask to evaluate their cyber readiness:

Identify: Is our agency able to find weak spots, prioritize our response to them and track them? Have we done asset management, risk assessments and supply chain risk management?
Protect: Is our “front door” locked? Are we taking proactive measures to protect our data today? Have we implemented identity and access management (IAM), awareness and training and overall data security procedures?
Detect: Can we tell when something goes wrong? Can we identify issues confidently and quickly in the case of an anomaly?
Respond: How do we respond when bad things happen? Have we instituted clear communication, analysis, mitigation and response planning?
Recover: Are we ready to recover and learn from an incident and make the necessary changes to ensure it does not happen again?

Addressing these questions and acting on them means committing to fostering a culture of security and secure best practices. There are many technologies that can aid in this endeavor including artificial intelligence (AI) Ops, which assesses system patterns and behaviors to identify and surface anomalies; IAM, which provides an extra layer of authentication through biometrics and contextual authorization; and cloud and virtual environments, which agencies can employ in combination with infrastructure-as-a-service to enhance security.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) has released two new updates to its security policy, Versions 5.9.1 and 5.9.2, based on the key pillars of data confidentiality, integrity and availability. These policies now require initial security training for personnel who need access to Department of Justice (DOJ) materials as well as the completion of yearly training for the extent of their access time. In conjunction with these policies are key technologies to safeguard data such as IAM, multi-factor authentication (MFA), system monitoring and others. Employing these solutions and safety measures boost community trust in law enforcement and the security of digital evidence. CJIS policies also reiterate to law enforcement officers the importance of doing their due diligence in securing both the data and their vital tools that otherwise could be rendered obsolete in the event of an attack. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has dedicated funding for state agencies to help with this endeavor of protecting the LE cyber space.

Rising Innovative Technologies for Law Enforcement Agencies

Implementation of body worn cameras (BWC) has been a growing initiative for law enforcement (LE) agencies for the last several years. With the Bureau of Justice Assistance’s Body Worn Camera Policy and Implementation Program (BWCPIP) more departments are able to receive grant funding and training for BWCs allowing more widespread usage of the technology especially in small, rural or tribal LE agencies. So far, this program has provided over $180 million in funding towards this effort. To support these BWC data advancements and further the technology benefits, LE agencies are looking for cloud storage and organization solutions, interoperability for data sharing, AI algorithms to efficiently tag videos and analytics software to pull relevant insights.

AI in the law enforcement field also provides many other time saving benefits including automating some procedures and everyday tasks like report writing. Before implementing AI, agencies must audit their current processes to assess the specific use cases and preemptively address any challenges. Establishing guidelines for AI usage by law enforcement, not only assists internally with governance and accountability, but also helps build public trust by delineating the technology capabilities.

Drones are another up-and-coming technology displaying value across public safety and emergency response. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022, LE agencies deployed unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and, through these drones, were able to conduct situation assessments, wide area searches, mapping of critical roadways to expedite the movement of resources and more. This UAS teaming approach has increased the speed and efficiency of first responders, as well as the ability to easily share the information with other agencies.

Whether it is body worn cameras and drones, or AI, cloud and other solutions, security must be baked into the technology and operational processes. As partners in this current landscape, every party involved both in law enforcement and industry has the responsibility to educate themselves and maximize collaboration and the technologies available to continue to make the United States a safe place.

To learn more about Carahsoft’s Law Enforcement Technology Solutions, visit our vertical portfolio and start your journey to enabling a safer tomorrow.

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at the IACP Annual Conference and Exposition 2023.*

IACP Conference 2022 Recap: Exploring Cybersecurity and Data Analysis

Posted on by Madeline Williams-Potter

Both law enforcement professionals and technology providers gathered at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) Conference 2022 to discuss current challenges in the field and latest technology resources to meet the needs of the police force. Based on a commitment to advance safer communities through thought leadership, experts focused on utilizing technology modernization to address the growing issues of cybersecurity and maximizing resources through effective data analysis.

CYBERSECURITY

Smartphone Use for Police Operations: Law enforcement agencies have found many benefits from providing officers in the field with smartphones including increased officer safety through GPS tracking, easy access to a camera, body-worn incident tagging, similar functionality to in-vehicle mobile data terminals (MDTs) and support to in-vehicle, in-field and in-station operations. The challenge, however, is achieving compliance and instituting cybersecurity strategies to ensure the safety of the data, device and officer. The Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security policy applies to all parties dealing with criminal justice information (CJI) and incorporates guidelines on wireless networking, data encryption and remote access. Mobile device management (MDM), a way to manage agency smartphones, is a requirement for any agency wanting to access, transmit or store criminal justice data using mobile devices. Agencies must institute elements such as:

Multi-factor authentication
Regular updates and maintenance
Remote device locking and setting lock capabilities
Remote wiping of device
Folder or disk level encryption
Detection of unauthorized configurations, software or applications
Location tracking of agency-controlled devices
Prevention of unpatched devices from accessing CJI or CJI systems

Ransomware: The recent increase of ransomware and impact of successful attacks is driving urgency within law enforcement agencies to institute stronger cybersecurity strategies. Disruptions to police systems cause 911 calls to be rerouted, CAD systems to be disrupted, email and phone systems to be disabled as well as other repercussions. Cybercriminals also threaten to leak confidential informant, victim and officer details if the police do not pay the ransom. Investigations conducted to identify possible ransomware attack patterns revealed that there was no geographic methodology behind the hacks but that the common link was, any vulnerability found in an agency’s system was exploited.

Ransomware remains the largest type of attacks against public safety agencies. Police departments make up about 22% of attacks on public safety and from 2020-2021, approximately $800 million was spent towards restoring operations due to ransomware attacks. The increase in ransomware can be attributed to the decrease of technological skills required to launch an attack, particularly in the form of ransomware-as-a-software (RaaS).

To protect an agency’s critical data, law enforcement institutions should adopt National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework principles such as:

Know your network: Examine all hardware, software, data flows and applications
Know your adversary: Who is attacking and how might they do it?
Patch, Patch, Patch: While sometimes difficult to execute operationally, it is essential
Know what normal looks like: It is the only way to detect abnormal
Educate your users: Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility
Know how to respond to a cyber-attack: Train hard, fight easy

Cybersecurity and Digital Integrity: In this current digital age, many agencies experience cyber fatigue, struggling to manage all the technology, digest the data and maintain sufficient security. The extensive number of devices such as internet of things (IoT) devices, vendor devices or other forms of technology running through the agency’s network create vulnerabilities and often result in cyber breaches. Being able to ingest all the data safely and effectively is critical to the justice system’s mission. All technology, even the most cutting-edge, still requires the implementation of cybersecurity. As a frame of reference, experts reminded that IT systems necessitate just as much security as physical evidence management and keeping the chain of custody intact.

Cyber incidents and data loss within law enforcement agencies endangers not only the public’s safety but also their trust in police officials. Inter-agency sharing of breaches is a key element to mitigate risk and promote transparency. Agencies can also facilitate trust within the community by proactively communicating their use of technology and the protection strategies in place to safeguard public data. Ultimately, technology should be implemented in conjunction with the correct cybersecurity measures to avoid opening additional vulnerabilities and successfully enhance safety and community trust.

DATA ANALYSIS

Modernizing Investigations in the Digital Age: Experts attest to the power of properly employed technology within the law enforcement field. By innovating with current technology and adopting other digital resources, agencies can transform the public safety landscape and offer significant value-adds to those who protect the community daily. To modernize the investigation workflow and process the substantial amounts of digital evidence, law enforcement administrations must focus on training personnel properly, instilling an understanding of the importance of securing digital evidence, keeping the chain of custody on digital evidence intact and demonstrating for other agencies the technology benefits to promote interagency collaboration and support.

Currently, 95% of crimes have a digital component involved through phone records, social media, security cameras etc. making the data analysis a crucial part of cases. This quantity of digital evidence extending across multiple aspects of investigations, the technical sophistication of criminals, public scrutiny and lack of resources can make it a challenge to store and manage. However, harnessing technology platforms that can analyze, track, store and share the data easily shifts the situation from being an underutilized burden to an integral wealth of information and efficiency booster.

Body Worn Cameras and Public Trust: Many law enforcement agencies have implemented widespread usage of body worn cameras (BWC) to increase transparency and build trust within their communities. According to a 2018 report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), 80% of law enforcement agencies have acquired body-worn cameras however 99% of that footage was never analyzed. Without the tools to catalog, analyze and apply the data, ROI on BWCs is severely impeded and the technology is rendered obsolete.

To remedy this situation, public safety offices are looking to create a fully indexed and automated database of events linked to multiple applications: supervision, performance evaluation, training, officer safety and wellness, community trust and transparency, risk management, etc.

This analysis and processing of BWC footage is possible through Multi-Modal Analysis (MMA) which integrates natural language processing (NLP) and computer vision (CV). Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) empower this technology to analyze the content of the camera footage and train the computer systems to optimize the material for easy evaluation of officer and citizen behavior. Public officials can then take these insights and formulate strategies of how officers can better influence interactions. Agencies plan to begin the adoption process of this solution starting in 2023. This will provide a new capacity to measure and evaluate officers in action and strengthen community trust through measurable outcomes and enhanced accountability.

Multimedia Evidence and Data Analytics Programs: Law enforcement agencies are often faced with the challenge of overwhelming amounts of data collected during cases. Officers gather three types of data:

Operational data—traffic stops, field interviews, calls for service, criminal incident, tips and informants
Non-operational data—human resources, training records, disciplinary files etc.
Digital evidence—video footage, news media, pictures, social media etc.

Unless it is handled properly, all of this information needing to be analyzed and managed can shutdown police IT systems and slow down the investigation. To solve this difficulty, public safety administrators created the Digital Content Analysis Platform (DCAP), which consists of several vetted tools to process the material. In addition to these resources, the key aspects needed for a successful data analysis program are:

Organizational planning & strategy
Proper implementation
Maintenance of architecture
Standardized processes
Proper and continuous training
Technical support and assistance
Communication and clear goal setting
Development of technical skills or robust outsourced managed services
Public safety mindset change

When law enforcement leadership prioritize the effort and commit the funding to these initiatives, it enables police departments to take basic reports and transition to software dashboards that make reports more efficient and easily digestible.

As law enforcement agencies seek to improve operations for the benefit of police officers and the communities they serve, utilizing technology plays a major role. Taking the data available and extracting insights through tech software enables police to operate data-driven strategies which contribute to a significant reduction of violent crime in cities across the country. By implementing the correct cybersecurity procedures alongside these IT solutions, law enforcement can be assured of the safety as well as the greatest benefits from the technology. Law enforcement agencies must unify under the mission of building trust within the community and maximizing every resource to protect public safety.

Visit Carahsoft’s Law Enforcement portfolio, bringing together industry-leading software and hardware solutions to support Federal, State and Local public safety agencies. Alongside our vendor partners, Carahsoft provides policing and investigative technologies to support mission objectives.

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at IACP 2022.*

Modernizing the Program Executive Office

Posted on by Madeline Williams-Potter

This summer, government agencies and IT leaders joined at TechNet Augusta 2022 to explore how new IT products can help the DoD accomplish its upcoming goals. Agencies such as the U.S. Army Cyber Command, Army Cyber Center of Excellence and G6 Offices discussed problem-solving techniques around the military’s current cyber procurement challenges. One of the U.S. Army’s main objectives is to become a data-centric organization. Several Army Program Executive Offices (PEO) are working towards implementing new initiatives that would achieve that goal.

One such office is the Program Executive Office Enterprise Information Systems (PEO-EIS), which manages and provides the information technology network and business systems to the U.S. Army and will focus on breaking down its unified network initiative in three phases:

Phase 1 will begin from August 2022 and last until 2024. The PEO-EIS will work to synchronize all network modernization plans.
Phase 2 will span across 2025-2027. The Army Program Executive Office will work to converge its enterprise and tactical networks.
Phase 3 will take effect in 2028 and onward. This phase will complete the network shift to be fully postured for Multi Domain Operations.

Program Executive Office Command, Control, Communications-Tactical (PEO-C3T) will work to develop, acquire and support the Army’s tactical network. This critical part of modernization plays a vital role in transforming to a data-centric network. The PEO-C3T has four focus areas for its networks:

Transport agnostic networking
Create a data-centric environment
Secure Architecture
Solidify Cyber and Electromagnetic Activities (CEMA) dominance

PEO-C3T also seeks to improve automated primary, alternative, contingency and emergency communications. Within this desired communications update, there are opportunities to include data-centric technologies such as AI/ML, 5G and long-rage high bandwidth broadband. Emerging technologies such as blockchain may also be helpful when implemented.

The Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI) oversees the training of the Army members. PEO-STRI and related Program Executive Offices are transitioning to become a more data-centric organization in several ways:

PEO-STRI aims to create platform development kits that will help the Army get involved with synthetic training environments (STE) and rehearsal simulations for training.
The PEO-EIS has been heavily involved in improving its data platform VANTAGE to utilize reference architecture and system views to improve their networks.
PEO-EIS wants assistance from industry experts for metric development for agile software and DevSecOps programs.
Program Executive Office for Intelligence, Electronic Warfare & Sensors (PEO-IEW&S), the office that proactively communicates with industry partners, has been working on converging sensor data and building adaptable sensors. These sensors would be able to enter an environment without a predetermined understanding of what that environment is going to be. This would expand the network capabilities. PEO-IEW&S is looking to dialogue with industries specializing in adaptable sensors with hopes of working together to provide feedback on rapid fielding initiatives.

The Signal Foundation supports multi-domain operations. Network Enterprise Technology Command (NETCOM), the premier communications organization and information service provider to the Army, has set a foundation for deploying unified networks. This foundation incorporates three tenets:

Accelerate: Agencies should work to find commercial solutions that are both secure and efficient for classified data and networks.
Centralize: NETCOM is now in charge of all the army’s organization networks and will work to centrally monitor their status.
Transform: The army will focus on deploying Army 365 and comply to connect technology across all its networks. Agencies such as Army Cyber Command (ARCYBER) are trying to experiment with how to deliver information operations to commanders and troops on the ground. These efforts can unify the U.S. army and keep units updated.

In combining Army networks, the PEO can ensure that all operations have similar modernization efforts and data objectives.

Lastly, the PEO aims to improve cybersecurity in the Cloud. When introducing new cloud programs into the Army or DoD, there needs to be a division of tasks. Oftentimes, companies have unclear responsibility delineation on who should work to secure their cloud systems. This leads to a lack of standard procedures for agencies’ cloud systems. With a proper division of labor, which should be implemented during the contract phase, agencies can ensure that safety measures are being properly established and tested.

By becoming data-centric, the Army aims to be on a single unified system front that is up to date and secure. Through achieving this goal, the Army can effectively optimize U.S. military operations.

For more information about TechNet Augusta, visit Carahsoft’s website, the trusted Government IT solutions provider.

*The information contained in this blog has been written based off the thought-leadership discussions presented by speakers at TechNet Augusta 2022.*

The 4 Latest Technology Trends in Law Enforcement

Posted on by GovWhitePapers, GovEvents

In the last few decades technology and digital services have grown exponentially, becoming more automated, advanced and often accurate. Now, law enforcement agencies are continuously learning how to adapt their outdated technologies to fight crime in the cyber and physical world. To better provide public safety, agencies should focus their efforts in four main areas: manage data, secure investment, ensure mobile accessibility and remain transparent. With these trends in mind, the law enforcement community can begin understanding the best ways to use technology against criminals.

1) Manage Data

As cybercrime increases, law enforcement agencies continue to be a significant target for bad actors looking to claim the extremely high value data these organizations hold—data that is personal and could even be life altering. Within data security and management, there are three vital categories to consider.

Protecting and storing sensitive data: The amount of cyber data held by law enforcement is unfathomable and keeping it secure is of utmost importance. With large amounts of surveillance such as body camera video and patrol car data, third-party tech companies must step in to provide support in storage capacity. Cloud solutions and centralization of data is making it easier for law enforcement to securely store, manage and access data versus external drives that can be stolen or broken.
Digital evidence as a part of every case: All digital evidence from victims and suspects needs to be managed for future use in trials, but as the amount of evidence that needs to be stored grows, crime labs simply cannot keep up. To combat this, processes are being put into place that allow officers to collect the most important evidence from devices during the initial investigation and allowing victims and witnesses to keep them afterward. This way, crime labs will not become overwhelmed and law enforcement can build trust within an investigation.
The relevancy of Artificial Intelligence: AI gives law enforcement the opportunity to work most efficiently by combing through data within a matter of seconds instead of a manual approach that could take weeks or months. With AI doing the harder work, analysts can then make imperative connections within a case much quicker.

2) Secure Investment

While it is obvious law enforcement must transition to more upgraded technology, new devices, software and security measures, these upgrades come with a hefty price tag. Not only do smaller law enforcement organizations have to compete for funding with larger state and local government agencies, but they must also attempt to build their case for funding allocation with data from outdated systems.

However, agencies can still use what they have in order to prove their services are worth the cost. For example, the Seattle Police Department used data from roughly 10,000 cases of mental health crisis to show the scope of support that is needed to create better programs for handling these unique situations.^[1]Other agencies are using Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions to mitigate storage, security and other data issues that are overwhelming legacy systems and the policing staff.

3) Ensure Mobile Accessibility

More funding and better data solutions will not fix the glaring issues of a lack of officer preparedness and willingness to learn new technologies. On the other hand, new processes and tech should help streamline their work such as mobile-first solutions. For example, officers who must still transition to using a smart phone on the job should find it easy as they likely already have a personal smart phone. Additionally, 5G is being widely built to align with law enforcement sectors. Various applications and software should be simple to access and use across any age or level of experience to allow officers to evaluate the more intimate details of a case while technology handles the raw data collection and analyses.

4) Remain Transparent

Transparency within policing has become an increasingly controversial topic, but data ensures factual support to garner trust between law enforcement agencies and the public. Some useful data is crime data, use-of-force data and mental and behavioral health crisis response data. Sharing these through PDFs or records management systems is simple, but new, collaborative data portals provide community members the opportunity to download and analyze data for themselves. There can be discrepancies in data collection, though, such as the use of body cameras and surveillance videos. These create grey areas when it comes to rights regarding digital information collection versus physical evidence.

The Future of Tech in Law Enforcement

The demand for quick and accurate results within law enforcement is rising much faster than the ability for agencies to replace old legacy systems and implement newer, more robust technologies. Organizations must continue to share their experiences to understand what is and is not working among the industry to ultimately improve not only the relationship between law enforcement and their communities, but also efficiency of public safety.

Read the full report by GovWhitePapers featuring real-world examples from Carahsoft’s vendors ADF Solutions, Magnet Forensics, Mark43 and Voyager Labs. For more information on the latest advancements in the Law Enforcement Sector, check out Carahsoft’s Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Technology solutions.

[1] “6 Challenges Impacting Public Safety & How Agencies are Adjusting,” Mark43, https://mark43.com/resources/blog/6-challenges-impacting-public-safety-how-agencies-are-adjusting/

“Law Enforcement Technology Trends Report,” GovWhitePapers, https://static.carahsoft.com/concrete/files/8116/5956/0644/2022_Law_Enforcement_Technology_Trends_Report.pdf

Best of What’s New In Law Enforcement

Posted on by The Carahsoft Team

In July, USA Today reported that the combination of pandemic-induced economic woes and the national movement to “defund the police” could lead to the biggest budget cuts for law enforcement agencies since the Great Recession of 2008. For police departments facing growing demands and tightening budgets, using technology to increase the impact of existing staff and resources will be a game changer. Luckily, autonomous technologies, better connectivity, and more sophisticated video and surveillance analytics tools are available to fill in the gaps. Read the latest insights from industry thought leaders in law enforcement in Carahsoft’s Innovation in Government® report.

Managing Cyber Exposure in Law Enforcement

“A law enforcement agency can face a variety of issues. It may need to address issues related to who has access to what information based on their role. It may need to segment its network — for example, to separate CJIS lookups from other areas that are open to the public. Law enforcement organizations may also be connected to other municipal departments such as the Department of Public Works or even other departments outside the municipality. Addressing these potential attack vectors requires security expertise, which in many cases is not on the agency’s priority list or in its budget. As a result, these agencies become even more susceptible to attack.”

Read more insights Tenable’s Senior Director of Marketing, Michael Rothschild.

Using Blockchain Analysis to Fight Crime

“It comes down to having the right data and making it actionable. Specifically, law enforcement should be interested in a partner with data attributing services, which attribute addresses to the clusters — that is, the entities — that control them. In this case, that would be cluster associated with criminal activity and their cashout points. The historical data behind this capability is an important differentiator. Chainalysis is the only company that has systematically collected information that links real-world entities to blockchain transactions since 2014. This allows the software to accurately distinguish different clusters of entities and attribute more data than can be seen on the blockchain.”

Read more insights from Chainalysis’s Director of Market Development, Don Spies.

Cloud: The IT Force Multiplier

“Storing, managing and effectively using an ever-increasing volume of digital data presents multiple challenges. Buying and maintaining hardware for data storage is expensive and challenging and diverts resources from the core mission of public safety. Then, agencies must manage stored data so it is discoverable, retrievable and in compliance with legally mandated retention policies. Without a sound digital evidence management solution and automated life cycle retention solutions, data management is nearly impossible. Finally, because data is produced in multiple systems, integrating and normalizing that data so it can be searched, analyzed and shared is challenging. Without a strong data management approach and systems, agencies must access multiple systems to discover data that is in different formats, making it very difficult to integrate and gain insights from that information.”

Read more insights from Amazon Web Services’s Public Strategy Lead, Ryan Reynolds.

Supporting the Law Enforcement Community During COVID-19 and Beyond

“COVID-19 created an unprecedented urgency for state, county and municipal workers to operate remotely whenever possible. This caught many agencies by surprise. Although these organizations moved with commendable speed to equip staff to work from home, the needs of the public only increased. Law enforcement agencies had to quickly adapt to the dangers of a pandemic amid calls for police reforms. These officials had to balance protecting the public, themselves and their colleagues in an ever-changing environment. Many departments have come to appreciate how technology enabled them to address these critical priorities.”

Read more insights from the Director of the Law Enforcement Team at Carahsoft, Lacey Wean.

Technology is Key to More Efficient and Effective Law Enforcement

“The pandemic decreased proactive activities. There are fewer cases where an officer might stop you for speeding 10 mph over the speed limit, for example. Departments have to weigh whether it’s worth the risk to stop a car to issue a traffic ticket and potentially be exposed to COVID-19, or to reserve their exposure time for things that are a matter of life or death. The impact of that is reduced revenue generation. COVID-19 also impacted morale. More law enforcement personnel have died from COVID-19 this year than have died in the line of duty. That impacts a police department and its morale — people work longer shifts, and health often suffers.”

Read more insights from the former Senior Adviser for the U.S. State Department’s Antiterrorism Assistance Program and Senior Law Enforcement Adviser for the 2012 Republican National Convention, Morgan Wright.

Download the full Innovation in Government® report for more insights from these law enforcement thought leaders and additional industry research from GovTech.