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BlackBerry AtHoc: Crisis Management That Saves Lives
Let's face it — most people are not prepared for emergencies. They rely on improvisation, random messages on social networks and the opinions of those who do not know what to do either.
Unfortunately, critical situations are common nowadays, so companies must understand how to respond to incidents.
However, an effective response is not a chaotic attempt to remember where to run, but a well-established mechanism that is launched even before the danger becomes life-threatening.
And if effective response is a mechanism, then BlackBerry AtHoc is its moving link. BlackBerry's platform is a full-fledged crisis management center that instantly coordinates the actions of all responsible persons, provides fast and secure information, and most importantly, saves lives.
Let's take a look at seven main use cases to see how BlackBerry AtHoc can help in various critical situations.
Natural disasters
A natural disaster is always a test of speed and accuracy. There is not even a minute to stop and think about an action plan: you need to act instantly to prevent tragic consequences. You need to warn people as soon as possible, help them evacuate, and coordinate emergency services.
That's where BlackBerry AtHoc comes into play — a mass notification and crisis management platform. It ensures that critical information reaches everyone who needs it in time.
How does it work?
BlackBerry AtHoc uses a multi-channel communication system that includes SMS, email, voice, mobile apps, and even integration with fire alarm panels and alert systems. This means that people will receive notifications regardless of their location or access to traditional communication channels.
Thanks to the predefined “Alert Packages” responsible persons do not spend precious minutes manually composing messages. The system automatically sends clear instructions tailored to the specific scenario, whether it's evacuation or shelter search. The solution identifies danger zones and helps control entry and exit from them.
In a disaster, information is life. That's why the platform provides two-way communication to increase the effectiveness of crisis management. This means that you can collect feedback from users, including photos, videos, and text messages. Thus, every employee or bystander becomes a valuable resource for assessing the situation and adjusting rescue operations.
Fire at the enterprise
The next most extreme and stressful situation is a fire. A fire in a building is enough to cause panic, but what if it happens in a high-risk facility such as a chemical plant?
When it comes to chemical production, the risk of rapid fire spread, toxic emissions, and explosions increases significantly. In such a situation, only prompt notification and coordination can save hundreds of lives.
And BlackBerry AtHoc fills this need by enabling fast communication between management, staff and emergency services, minimizing chaos and delays.
How does it work?
BlackBerry AtHoc alarm boxes are installed on the territory of the enterprise and connected to the cloud platform. They are equipped with buttons to call for help in case of fire, medical emergencies, environmental threats, or security breaches. This allows staff to immediately report the danger.
The obvious step is to notify through all communication channels. With BlackBerry, everything works in an automated mode. Once an alarm is activated, the AtHoc system sends out instant notifications via SMS, email, mobile app, voice calls, loudspeakers, and digital signage. The system also integrates with fire panels to automatically activate the alarm and indicate evacuation routes.
In the event of a toxic release, AtHoc allows you to notify residents of neighboring areas, providing them with evacuation or safety instructions.
In addition, thanks to integrated geofencing, managers can receive real-time information about staff location. Employees can confirm their safety or report threats, allowing for better coordination of rescue efforts.
BlackBerry AtHoc helps not only during the fire incident, but also after it: the system supports the automation of response plans, coordination with emergency services, and reporting for future investigations and prevention of similar incidents.
Cyber attack
A cyberattack has always been an unexpected blow to a business. In an instant, a company can be left without access to critical systems and employees without clear instructions for action.
In most cases, if a hacker attack is detected, three steps are required: isolate the affected systems, warn employees, and ensure continuous communication even if corporate services are unavailable.
This is where BlackBerry AtHoc comes in.
How does it work?
Even if the main corporate communication channels are down, AtHoc will deliver critical messages via SMS, mobile app, voice calls, email, and push notifications. All you need to do is develop pre-prepared message templates and define communication channels during the incident response.
AtHoc's integration with SIEM systems, threat intelligence services, and monitoring tools allows you to instantly activate a response scenario by sending personalized instructions to different groups of employees:
● Management and SOC receive a summary of the attack ● IT teams coordinate measures to isolate the threat ● All employees receive clear instructions on how to act safely
AtHoc also allows you to collect real-time feedback: employees can confirm receipt of an alert and report suspicious activity.
As soon as the threat is eliminated, AtHoc notifies employees to resume work to avoid confusion and delays in business processes.
A bomb threat
Information about a bomb in a public place is always challenging for businesses and security services. Panic, chaotic evacuation and lack of clear communication can lead to even greater risks than the threat itself.
A dedicated, proven cloud-based CEM solution and BlackBerry Messenger (BBME) ensure secure, fast, and coordinated communication in such situations.
How does it work?
AtHoc allows you to instantly notify all employees via mobile apps, SMS, voice calls, email, or desktop notifications. It is the only critical event management platform that works seamlessly with encrypted messengers such as BBME. It is noteworthy that BlackBerry Messenger Enterprise is the only messaging service that has never been compromised.
The solution allows for chaos-free evacuation of personnel, as AtHoc integrates with physical panic buttons and building notification systems. Vulnerable groups of staff can use personal panic buttons to call for help, and emergency services (police, ambulance, fire) receive automatic notification and access to critical data.
AtHoc integrates with building management systems to automatically lock or unlock specific areas for safe evacuation, interact with environmental sensors (such as fire panels), and quickly transmit operational information to emergency services.
The BlackBerry AtHoc and BBME guarantee a fast, clear and safe response, because every second counts in an explosion threat.
Accident at a critically important facility (NPP, HPP)
BlackBerry AtHoc enables mass notification of employees and the local population through multiple communication channels, automates emergency processes such as evacuation and mobilization of emergency services, and connects physical security systems to reduce response times.
How does it work?
In seconds, BlackBerry AtHoc activates the emergency protocol. Again, instant notification via mobile apps, SMS, email, radio, and even digital billboards comes into play. Thus, everyone knows what's going on and what to do.
The system takes into account the location of personnel and directs them to safe areas through integrated signage and voice messages. This reduces panic and avoids chaos.
BlackBerry AtHoc automatically assigns roles to emergency responders, bringing ambulances, firefighters, police, and crisis managers into a single response network. The critical enterprise has full control over the situation: the system allows real-time tracking of personnel and quick updates of instructions depending on the development of events.
The most important thing is to warn people who are not plant employees. With AtHoc, you can notify all citizens en masse and provide instructions, speeding up the evacuation of people from the surrounding areas.
Pandemic
Imagine a new virus outbreak. Panic. Disinformation. Hospitals are at their limit. Although we've already experienced a pandemic, not all companies are ready to repeat this scenario.
The BlackBerry AtHoc enables clear communication, coordination of medical services, and monitoring of critical security measures. We may not be able to eliminate the chances of a second pandemic, but we can eliminate the chances of chaos caused by one.
How does it work?
Mass notifications are sent out in real time. Employees and citizens are aware of the symptoms, quarantine restrictions, and preventive measures. And no more advice on dubious websites.
The automated notification packages provided by AtHoc contain ready-made templates for COVID-19, flu outbreaks, biological threats, or any other health crises. In addition, the platform monitors the status of staff and medical facilities, with full accounting for employee safety, checking the availability of hospital beds and medical supplies.
AtHoc allows you to coordinate medical facilities. The platform automatically distributes tasks between doctors, logisticians, sanitary services, and other critical specialists.
Another important feature is the integrated panic buttons in hospitals to immediately call for help in case of a threat to staff.
Transport incidents
An airplane crash, railroad accident, or any other traffic accident is always chaos, panic, and an information vacuum in the first minutes after the tragedy.
BlackBerry AtHoc changes the way we respond to such incidents by instantly connecting all key stakeholders — from crisis centers to rescuers and medics — into a single, synchronized system.
How does it work?
As soon as an alarm signal is received, the system automatically sends alerts to the relevant services, regardless of their location. Police, ambulances, firefighters, and emergency teams receive instant notifications via SMS, email, mobile apps, or loudspeakers, while train station and airport dispatchers can coordinate their actions quickly and efficiently without confusion or delay.
At the same time, thanks to the mass notification system, passengers' relatives receive confirmed information directly, not through unverified news or panicked posts on social media.
When the first waves of shock subside, the most difficult part of the work begins: accounting for victims, organizing evacuations, coordinating medical facilities, and monitoring the safety of rescuers. Once again, BlackBerry AtHoc integrates with all crisis management systems, allowing real-time tracking of personnel, checking of rescue lists, generation of operational reports for government organizations, and synchronization of actions of all services involved in disaster response.
Thus, the AtHoc platform creates an accurate picture of events, without misinformation from social media, allowing for timely action.
Conclusion
You can't predict disasters, but you can — and should — be prepared for.
BlackBerry AtHoc provides not only instant notification, but also full control over all aspects of crisis management — from the first minutes after a disaster to the final completion of the rescue operation. After all, it is through instant response that many lives can be saved.
If you would like to learn more about the platform or request a demonstration, please contact us