The world is more complex, demanding, and fraught with danger than ever before. From the global threat of terrorism to the looming potential for natural and man-made disasters, it has never been more important to ensure that business and industry facilities continue to operate during and in the aftermath of a crisis.
The Corporate Emergency Access System, or CEAS, was developed to help address this new set of realities. CEAS is a pre-event credentialing program that allows critical business employees to gain access to restricted areas following a disaster or serious emergency by using a secure identification card recognized by the police.
Our Mission and Goals
The CEAS Program goal is to help businesses mitigate damage and loss resulting from a disaster or emergency. This is accomplished by allowing businesses rapid access to restricted areas following emergency events. Participating businesses select a pre-determined number of employees to receive CEAS access ID cards based on total employee population. These critical employees can quickly get back to work, assess damages and ensure their companies' viability, continuity and recovery.
By allowing safe and secure emergency access, CEAS gives businesses the opportunity to put a sound emergency management plan in place. Not only does this ensure the rapid recovery of essential operations, but CEAS also provides businesses with the ability to rescue valuable assets left behind in an emergency such as cash, checks, and securities; retrieve vital records, hardware and critical equipment; stabilize and sustain core IT systems, conduct damage assessments, and much more.
CEAS: Cutting-Edge Identification
First developed in New York in the 1990s by the Business Network of Emergency Resources, Inc. (BNET), a not-for-profit organization, the CEAS Program leads the way in secure private-sector credentialing using cutting-edge technologies. A completely state of the art system enables CEAS to provide business and industry with accepted security credentials when they are needed most.
BNET continues to optimize its Web-based credentialing process with new and evolving technology. This eliminates the need for private businesses to purchase or maintain expensive software and hardware, and results in an improved customer experience from application to card production. All new CEAS cards are designed to meet and exceed the Federal Personal Identification Verification (PIV) standard with additional layers of security allowing recognition and inter-operability across jurisdictional boundaries.
Today countless businesses of all types that take the continuity of their business operations seriously have become part of the CEAS Program.
The CEAS Advantage.
Developed with the input of local organizations and businesses, CEAS is the only known program to offer pre-disaster credentialing through agreements with local government and provides:
Partnership - Creates a bond between local government and area businesses for the purpose of minimizing economic loss resulting from disasters or emergencies
Identification – CEAS' unique ID Cards enable law enforcement officials to recognize those responsible for maintaining and restoring business
Access – Allows critical employees to enter restricted areas, through the use of the CEAS ID, to sustain operations and initiate recovery
Resiliency – Reduces enterprise risk by helping businesses rebound quickly from a disaster
Security – Provides a formal process ensuring that the right people have access to the right places at the right time
About Business Network of Emergency Resources, Inc (BNET)
BNET, headquartered in New York City, is a not-for-profit company dedicated to establishing practical and effective emergency and crisis management solutions through partnerships between the public and private sector. Created by BNET, the Corporate Emergency Access System (CEAS) uses a ‘critical employee access card' system to mitigate the economic loss incurred through unforeseen emergencies where access to the workplace is restricted.
BNET, Incorporated in 1999, resulting from of a 1997-1998 study titled the Joint Loss Reduction Partnership (JLRP), funded by FEMA and conducted by the New York State Emergency Management Office in partnership with representatives from NYS businesses. The goal of the JLRP was to study and determine the needs of private-sector businesses following a serious emergency or disaster. The findings of the study identified a need for closer collaboration between the public and private sector, but most importantly a process for allowing critical business personnel to re enter their place of business within defined restricted areas to begin business recovery activities. The CEAS program is an outgrowth of the recommendations of the JLRP.
Today BNET directed by a volunteer Board of Directors representing a cross section of private sector industries and by a public sector advisory board.
