A Practical Path to Resilient 911 Cybersecurity
Every PSAP leader knows the problem. Legacy systems are brittle, costly to maintain, and vulnerable to attack. Yet the idea of replacing them all at once feels overwhelming. Budgets are limited, staff are stretched thin, and downtime is not an option.
This tension creates paralysis. Agencies know they need to modernize, but fear that the process will be disruptive or unaffordable. The good news is that there is a better path. Cybersecurity and resiliency can be strengthened step by step, without tearing systems down to the studs.
Carbyne: A 2025 NCSAM Champion
Carbyne is proud to be a 2025 National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM) Champion. This designation reflects our commitment to advancing cybersecurity awareness and resilience in public safety. As a Champion, we stand alongside national leaders in promoting secure-by-design technology and building collective resilience across communities.
The Trap of “Rip and Replace”
For years, the prevailing wisdom was that modernization meant starting over. Rip out the old, bring in the new, and endure the disruption along the way. In theory, this would solve the problem. In reality, it created more risk.
- High cost: Replacing entire infrastructures at once requires capital that many local governments do not have.
- Operational disruption: Full replacements often require downtime or complicated cutovers that put call handling at risk.
- Staff resistance: Change fatigue sets in when personnel are forced to relearn entire systems overnight.
The result is that many PSAPs stick with outdated systems longer than they should, leaving themselves exposed to cyberattacks and outages.
Incremental Modernization: A Smarter Approach
Carbyne offers an alternative. Modernization can be incremental, with security and resiliency built into each step. Instead of swinging a wrecking ball, agencies can take a measured path that strengthens defenses while keeping operations running smoothly.
This approach delivers several advantages:
- Lower risk: Small steps reduce the chance of major disruption.
- Faster results: Security gains can be realized immediately rather than waiting for a multi-year overhaul.
- Budget alignment: Costs can be spread over time instead of concentrated in one massive project.
- Staff engagement: Personnel adapt more easily when changes are introduced gradually.
Incremental modernization recognizes the realities of public safety. It strengthens cybersecurity without forcing agencies into an all-or-nothing gamble.
Where to Start
The path forward depends on each agency’s unique environment, but common entry points include:
- Caller location and data: Enhancing situational awareness with secure, real-time location data is often the first step toward modernization.
- Cybersecurity posture: Migrating sensitive data into cloud-native environments provides immediate protection against ransomware and outages.
- Redundancy and continuity: Introducing multi-region backup capabilities directs calls to call takers even if one environment fails.
- Incremental adoption of AI: Features like automated abandoned call-back or live transcription can be layered in without disrupting core operations.
Each step brings immediate value while laying the foundation for deeper transformation.
Carbyne’s Architecture for Resilient Growth
Carbyne was designed to support this kind of gradual evolution. Our platform is cloud-native, modular, and built with Zero Trust security at its core. That means agencies can start with one capability and expand as their needs grow.
- Cloud-native resilience: No reliance on fragile on-premise servers.
- Active-active redundancy: Multi-region failover supports uptime even during disasters or cyberattacks.
- Zero Trust security: Every connection is continuously verified, shrinking the attack surface.
- Future-ready modules: AI-driven triage, live video, and advanced analytics can be added when agencies are ready.
This design eliminates the false choice between standing still and total replacement. Agencies can build resilience step by step while staying operational and compliant.
Why Incremental Matters for Cybersecurity
Cyber threats are constant. Waiting for a full replacement leaves agencies exposed for years. Incremental modernization changes the timeline. Agencies can:
- Close known vulnerabilities immediately.
- Reduce the risk of ransomware with each migration step.
- Establish redundancies that protect against outages.
- Demonstrate measurable improvements to oversight bodies and the public.
Every step is progress, and every progress point strengthens the community’s lifeline.
A Real-World Example
Consider an ECC still running on an aging call-handling infrastructure. A complete replacement might take years and millions of dollars. Instead, the agency begins by adding Carbyne’s secure location services and cloud-based redundancy. Overnight, they gain stronger cybersecurity, better situational awareness, and resilience against outages.
From there, they adopt AI-enabled call triage, which reduces staff burden and filters non-emergency calls. Later, they expand to live video integration, improving response accuracy. Each step is independent, but together they form a modern, resilient ecosystem.
This is modernization without the wrecking ball.
The Leadership Imperative
For directors, CIOs, and procurement leaders, incremental modernization offers more than technical benefits. It provides a leadership advantage.
- Demonstrate accountability: Leaders can show councils and commissioners measurable security improvements at each stage.
- Reduce liability: By addressing vulnerabilities now, leaders avoid the perception of negligence after an incident.
- Boost staff confidence: Teams see that leadership is investing in resilience without overwhelming them with overnight change.
- Control the narrative: Incremental wins build momentum and credibility with stakeholders.
The message is clear. Modernization is not a future project. It is an ongoing process, and it can begin today.
The Risk of Standing Still
The greatest risk for public safety is inertia. Cybercriminals exploit outdated systems because they know many PSAPs hesitate to modernize. Waiting until budgets align perfectly or until an entire system can be replaced creates dangerous exposure.
Communities cannot afford that risk. Every day that systems remain vulnerable increases the likelihood of an incident. Incremental modernization reduces exposure immediately while paving the way for long-term resilience.
The Path Forward
Modernization does not have to be disruptive. It does not have to drain budgets or force overnight system replacements. With Carbyne, agencies can strengthen cybersecurity and resilience step by step.
This practical path avoids the pitfalls of “rip and replace,” accelerates results, and delivers confidence that leaders can defend in front of oversight bodies and the public.
The future of resilient 911 is not about starting over. It is about building smarter, faster, and stronger, one step at a time.
Ready to learn more?
Visit carbyne.com/cybersecurity to learn more or to schedule a demo.