In September 2024, Hurricane Helene slammed into the Southeast, bringing catastrophic damage to six states. Hours of relentless wind and rain triggered deadly flooding and landslides that toppled trees, washed away towns, and tore through sections of I-40. As cell towers failed and power grids buckled, agencies had to respond without critical infrastructure.
For IT leaders, moments like these are the real test. When disaster strikes, resilient connectivity, secure mobile access, real-time coordination, and adaptable systems are lifesaving tools. Yet many agencies aren’t prepared for the worst.
What is strategic preparedness?
Strategic preparedness means investing in systems that can adapt, recover, and continue to deliver, even when physical infrastructure fails. That includes resilient network connectivity—such as 5G, satellite broadband, or mobile command units—and centrally managed mobility solutions that enable field services in hard-to-reach or disconnected areas. It also means having security teams can trust under stress, data that stays available, and platforms capable of rerouting or rebuilding themselves.
Here are five ways government agencies can shift operations from reactive to resilient.
Equip field teams with secure, ready-to-go mobility
In a crisis, field teams are the first line of response, but they can’t act if they’re cut off from crucial systems. Rugged, centrally managed mobile devices paired with resilient connectivity like 5G, satellite broadband, or portable networks give teams secure, reliable access in the field, even when traditional infrastructure fails.
Imagine a major storm knocks out power lines and floods roads, isolating a rural community. With pre-configured mobile devices and portable network access, response teams can coordinate evacuations, report damage, and stay connected.
Enforce Zero Trust under pressure
In an emergency, teams need fast, secure access without introducing risk. A Zero Trust approach ensures first responders and crisis managers can communicate securely and access only what they need, based on verified identity, role, and real-time context.
It also protects backup systems and sensitive data by encrypting information and preventing unauthorized changes. When integrated into disaster response, Zero Trust helps agencies maintain operational integrity during a crisis.
Ensure continuity when systems fail
Strategic emergency preparedness doesn’t end with a backup plan. Systems should reroute traffic, scale up securely, and self-heal when needed.
Consider a cyberattack that disables key communications during a storm recovery effort. With continuity planning and infrastructure support, agencies can failover to secure secondary systems without losing time, compromising data, or halting operations.
Enable real-time coordination across teams
In high-stakes scenarios, delays and miscommunication can cost lives. Cloud-based platforms and integrated data views help agencies to share timely, accurate information between command centers and field units.
Picture a wildfire response where air quality data, evacuation zones, and personnel locations need to update in real time. Partners like DMI can help agencies centralize and streamline data sharing so everyone from field crews to headquarters operates with the same up-to-date situational awareness.
Build adaptive infrastructure that responds in real time
Modernization without resilience is a risk. To stay operational in any condition, agencies need infrastructure that adapts under pressure.
Imagine a severe winter storm disrupts travel and supply chains across multiple states. Agencies can use AI-enhanced dashboards to track real-time logistics delays and automatically reroute medical supply deliveries to the regions most at risk. By integrating cloud infrastructure, geospatial analytics, and workflow automation, they can avoid shortages and maintain essential services despite widespread disruptions.
Prepare for what’s next
According to the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), readiness means constantly scanning the horizon to prepare for whatever emergency may come next. That kind of foresight demands IT systems built to hold up under pressure, recover quickly, and keep teams connected when it matters most.
While many vendors deliver software, DMI supports full-lifecycle resilience—from strategy and deployment to long-term optimization. We help agencies adapt in real time, not just respond after the fact.
Is your infrastructure ready?
Let’s talk about how DMI can help build a resilience strategy that holds strong in a crisis.
