City Hall upgrades infrastructure for disaster recovery and public safety systems

The City of Waukesha's Information Technology Board held a meeting on June 4, 2025, where key discussions centered around the city's disaster recovery infrastructure and its implications for public safety services.

A significant focus was placed on the city's server setup, which includes 14 servers for production, alongside additional servers for testing and training environments. The board emphasized the importance of disaster recovery capabilities, noting that the current system, managed by a Nutanix hypervisor, allows for data recovery with minimal loss—between one to 15 minutes—should a failure occur at the City Hall data center. This robust setup is crucial for maintaining the integrity of public safety data, ensuring that vital information remains accessible even in emergencies.

The board also discussed the integration of cloud services within the city's systems, particularly concerning the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system used by police and fire departments. While most of the infrastructure remains on-premises, certain components of the CAD system utilize cloud technology to enhance data sharing and operational efficiency.

Additionally, the board addressed the redundancy measures in place, which include multiple layers of backup systems to prevent data loss. This includes redundant power supplies and hard drives, as well as a secondary data center to ensure continuous operation.

While the county has its own hardware for the CAD system, the city will bear the costs associated with its infrastructure, except for shared expenses related to the CAD to CAD interface, pending an agreement with the county.

Overall, the discussions highlighted the city's commitment to maintaining a secure and efficient IT infrastructure that supports essential public safety services, ensuring that Waukesha residents can rely on their local government during critical situations.