TASER, Microsoft introduce integrated camera and digital-evidence management solution

TASER and Microsoft have partnered to offer a security-enhanced, digital evidence management solution through the integration of Microsoft Azure cloud platform and Windows 10 devices with TASER’s Axon Platform and Evidence.com solution, officials for the companies announced during the recent International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP) annual conference in Chicago.

TASER will integrate its Evidence.com solution and Axon camera systems with the Microsoft Azure cloud platform and Windows 10 devices, providing the function of digital-evidence management, data analysis and real-time decision support that can be delivered on an array of rugged mobile devices.

“TASER is revolutionizing how law enforcement captures, processes and shares digital evidence,” Curt Kolcun, Microsoft’s vice president of U.S. public sector, said in a prepared statement. “By combining this expertise with Microsoft’s intelligent cloud, device and data technologies, we will collectively bring to life not only the ‘mobile precinct’ approach for positive policing, but we’ll do it within the highest of compliance standards of privacy and security around the globe.”

The integration of TASER’s public-safety camera systems and Microsoft’s cloud platform will streamline the evidence-intake process and add mobility, which enables the flexibility to process data anytime and on any device, Microsoft spokesperson said during an interview with IWCE Urgent Communications.

“The connected ecosystem of the camera—from capture, analysis, hosting, and archiving—combined with Microsoft’s intelligent cloud, data insights, and device management, will be stronger together than what each could achieve separately,” she said.  

Microsoft is one of the few cloud providers to contract with the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), and agencies utilizing the Azure cloud platform can be reassured that the solution has passed the stringent CJIS compliance standards to ensure superior security, according to the spokesperson.

Rick Smith, TASER founder and CEO, expressed enthusiasm about his company’s relationship with Microsoft.

“We’re incredibly excited to announce our partnership with Microsoft, a recognized public sector leader with valued products across police agencies’ technical needs,” Smith said in a prepared statement. “I’m also excited to announce that the new partnership offers future opportunities for Axon customers to leverage even more cutting-edge technologies with Microsoft’s expertise in data analytics, machine learning and computer vision.”

Current, U.S-based Axon customers will have the option to move their data to Microsoft Azure Government for no additional cost. The Axon Azure platform is expected to be ready for preview by the end of the year and will be publicly available to agencies by early 2016.