In early 2025, Systems Integrations—serving Gloucester, Camden, Salem, Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Mercer, and Cumberland Counties in New Jersey; Delaware, Chester, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Berks, and Bucks Counties in Pennsylvania; and New Castle County, Delaware—was contracted by a fire protection partner to audit a municipal government client’s physical access control system (PACS). Our assessment revealed the system was running on an outdated Windows 7 “server” PC—unsupported, vulnerable, and nearing end-of-life. We documented these deficiencies in a formal report, recommending a server and application upgrade to prevent operational risk.
The Client’s Decision
Despite our recommendations, the municipal client elected not to upgrade or update their PACS infrastructure. Budget constraints, procurement cycles, and competing priorities often delay critical investments in public sector security across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.
The Result: System Failure and Downtime
As predicted, the server failed less than a year later. With the PACS offline, the municipality faced immediate access and security challenges. Because we had proactively taken a system backup during our audit, we were able to respond quickly and help restore functionality. However, this emergency could have been avoided entirely with a planned upgrade.
Key Takeaways for Local Governments
- Deferred Upgrades Lead to Unplanned Outages: Relying on unsupported hardware and software increases the risk of unexpected failure and disruption for municipal offices, schools, and public facilities in NJ, PA, and DE.
- Unique Challenges for Local Governments: Budget cycles and procurement processes often delay upgrades, but the risks to public safety and continuity remain high.
- Proactive Planning Saves Time and Money: Regular system audits, timely upgrades, and migration to cloud-based platforms can prevent emergencies and reduce long-term costs for municipalities and local government agencies.
Local Expertise, Local Solutions
Systems Integrations is fully licensed and experienced in delivering security and access control solutions for municipal clients throughout Gloucester, Camden, Salem, Cape May, Atlantic, Burlington, Ocean, Mercer, and Cumberland Counties (NJ); Delaware, Chester, Lancaster, Philadelphia, Montgomery, Berks, and Bucks Counties (PA); and New Castle County (DE). Our team understands the unique needs of local governments and offers tailored solutions to ensure compliance, reliability, and public safety.
Is your municipal facility in NJ, PA, or DE relying on outdated security infrastructure? Contact Systems Integrations for an expert audit, RFP support, and future-ready solutions.