Case Study: Building a Reliable, CJIS-Compliant Public Safety Network
Whiteside County 911 Dispatch Center
Industry: Public Safety | Emergency Communications
Services Provided: Network Infrastructure Overhaul, Managed Services, CJIS Compliance Support
The Challenge
Identifying Barriers to Success
The Whiteside County 911 dispatch center supports 9 police departments (including the sheriff’s office), 10 fire departments, 8 EMS agencies, and the county jail—handling emergency/non-emergency calls, dispatching, CAD operations, mobile support, and crime database interactions.
However, their network setup was fragmented and outdated:
• Dependency confusion between county IT and internal systems
• Thinly stretched IT staff with unclear support lines
• Outdated hardware and unsupported configurations
• Cybersecurity risks highlighted by a nearby county attack
• Disruption-prone processes due to aging infrastructure
The Solution
A Journey of Collaboration
Factor Technology Solutions was selected for a complete network transformation and long-term support partnership. Key elements included:
- Full network rebuild from the ground up
- New fiber provider with redundancy using county infrastructure
- Server migration off the county network
- Two-factor authentication across the board
- Microsoft 365 migration to replace legacy email
- CJIS-aligned practices and hardened security protocols
Deployment Experience
Transformative Outcomes
- Smooth & Timely: Minimal disruptions despite scale
- Highly Coordinated: 4AM on-site support, pre-planned outages
- Outstanding Communication: Constant updates via Teams, phone, and email
Results and Impact
Successful Changes
- Faster support response times
- Improved system speed and program interoperability
- Reduced redundancy in task management
- Empowered users with autonomy and better tools
- Stronger cybersecurity posture & system reliability
Ongoing Support
Continued Impact
- Reliable and Personal: Even off-hours issues were escalated directly to senior staff and resolved quickly
- Proactive Follow-Up: In-person support delivered when remote help wasn’t enough
- Continuous Monitoring: Confidence in long-term stability and fast resolution times
Katie Pilgrim | ETSB Coordinator
“Factor’s professionalism and technical expertise are unmatched. Every ask—big or small—was met with capability, humility, and follow-through.”