 LEITSC - Law Enforcement Information Technology
Standards Council
by Alex Sagala, Marketing Manager
In
the context of rapidly evolving technologies in
the public safety market - most notably, in law
enforcement - programs are being increasingly
created to help standardize and put forward best
practices for Information Systems. One of these
newly created programs is called LEITSC, the Law
Enforcement Information Technology Standards
Council.
The LEITSC was established to address the issue
of information technology standards specific to
the law enforcement community. The main goals of
LEITSC are:
-
Facilitate development of standards by using
committees composed primarily of law
enforcement practitioners to review and
analyze the existence of technology
standards, particularly in the areas of
functional standards specific to records
management systems (RMS) and computer aided
dispatch (CAD), and technical standards for
emerging technologies
-
Represent law enforcement in the development
of standards that affect the integrated
justice community
-
Provide outreach and education to the
nation's law enforcement community regarding
IT standards (http://policechiefmagazine.org –
LEITSC and Standard Functional
requirements)
In August 2005, LEITSC released a draft version
of their CAD and RMS functional standards. Both
of these standards were created with the help of
the IJIS Institute (www.ijisinstitute.org)
and its members. The IJIS institute helped bring
the vendor community in the process and ensure
an early buy-in by those who create the CAD and
RMS applications. Vendors also brought technical
expertise that is essential when trying to
create realistic functional standards.
At this point, you must be wondering, “How can
these functional standards and LEITSC help me?”
The answer is twofold. First of all, making
national functional standards available is the
first step in building a solid foundation for
future national information sharing initiative.
It simplifies the task of information sharing
between systems. If two systems talk the same
language, then it becomes easier to exchange
information between them. Secondly, by having
functional standards, it simplifies the task of
procuring and implementing a new CAD or RMS
system. You can easily use these standards to
identify key functionality that need to be
included and use that list in the creation of
your RFP. By doing so you are assured of getting
a complete CAD or RMS system.
More information on the Law Enforcement
Information Technology Standards Council as well
as the functional standards mentioned above can
be found on the LEITSC website
www.leitsc.org.
Sweet Product Line Compatible with SQL
Server 2005
by Charlie Barry, Director of Technology
With the
5.2 release of Sweet-Billing, Sweet-Field
Data, and Sweet-CAD, the Sweet product
line is now compatible with Microsoft SQL Server
2005. With the release of 5.2, the Sweet product
line now supports Microsoft SQL Server 7.0,
2000, and 2005.
As we look into the
future of the Sweet product line, it becomes
imperative that in order to continue offering
exceptional products that as technology changes
so must the Sweet product line. In an effort to
grow the product line it sometimes means
eliminating support for older, outdated
technology. As will be the case with Microsoft
SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0, effective December
31, 2007 the Sweet product line will cease to
support Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0.
At Ortivus NA we
understand there is an investment associated
with upgrading, therefore we are making
customers aware of our intentions 18 months in
advance. Ortivus NA recommends that customers
immediately start making plans to upgrade their
Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0
installations to a comparable Microsoft SQL
Server 2005 edition.
Please continue to
monitor the OrtivusTALK Newsletter for articles
pertaining to the phase out of support for SQL
Server 7.0 and MSDE 1.0.#3
Windows Vista
and its impact on Windows XP
by Charlie Barry, Director of Technology
The current
Microsoft Windows Vista road map calls for
Windows Vista to ship November 2006 for
business availability and January 2007 for broad
consumer availability.
With a new version of Microsoft Windows six to
eight months away, what does this mean for your
existing Windows XP installation? Essentially,
the release of a new Windows Operating system
means very little to your existing installations
of Windows XP. Based on the
Microsoft Support Life-Cycle, Windows XP
Main Stream Support will continue for two
years after the release of Windows Vista, with
Extended Support ending five years after the
release of Windows Vista.
What will be impacted is the ability to
purchase Windows XP licenses once Windows Vista
ships. The
Microsoft Windows Life-Cycle states that OEM
and retail licenses will be available through
the launch of Windows Vista, although licenses
will be available through the downgrade rights
option of the Volume Licensing programs. What
this means is once Windows Vista ships, the only
way to purchase licenses for Windows XP will be
through the downgrade rights option of the
Volume Licensing Program. What are downgrade
rights? Downgrade rights allow for the purchase
of Windows Vista while legally allowing for the
deployment of Windows XP; generally there is a
small additional cost for the Windows XP media.
Windows Vista can then be deployed at a later
date with no additional cost.
Ortivus is actively working on certifying its
product line for compatibility with Windows
Vista; certification is expected to be complete
3rd Quarter 2006, in time for the
release of Window Vista.
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