The Panasonic Toughbook W5 was selected for the extended pilot, based on the recommendations from the first phase of testing in 2006. Its predecessor, Panasonic Toughbook W4, was rated by the first phase’s participants most favorably on account of its weight, size, and battery life (see the appendix for a detailed device description). Per ACS request, each device was equipped with an internally mounted Verizon Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) card and the laptop memory was upgraded to 1GB of RAM.

Each laptop connected remotely to the internet, the ACS network, and CONNECTIONS via the built-in Verizon WWAN card for access to the Verizon cellular network (where available). Although the Manhattan and Staten Island area coverage per Verizon information was 100%, the actual connectivity varied considerably. A typical session using ACS Remote Access to use the ACS network and CONNECTIONS would last between 30-60 minutes before the user needed to reestablish a connection to the system.

Security provisions included deterring theft and ensuring data and network integrity. Locks were distributed to each pilot participant to secure the laptop to a fixed location. In addition, each laptop hard drive was encrypted using BeCrypt data security software. Finally, access to the ACS network and CONNECTIONS was protected by several layers of passwords designed to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive client data. No security-related problems or breaches were reported for the test period.

Figure 2 - CPS Connectivity to CONNECTIONS System During the Pilot

As shown in Figure 2, using the laptop required the user to execute four password-protected logons: the first provided access to the encrypted laptop itself; the second log-on provided access to the server at DOITT; the third log-on provided access to ACS’ remote access server; and the fourth provided access to the CONNECTIONS database. Although ACS MIS staff recognized that a multi-layer password protection would present usability problems for the pilot participants, they were unable to eliminate any of these layers prior to the beginning of the pilot due to requirements imposed by NYC’s Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications.