Implementing Wi-Fi in jails or prisons was once a highly debated topic for agencies around the country. However, in recent years, perspectives have shifted. As the benefits of advanced technology have become clear, modernization has gained widespread acceptance.
Today, the question is no longer whether Wi-Fi is necessary; it’s how officers can sufficiently complete their jobs without it. Cloud-based tools have become an integral part of daily workflows, leading users to wonder: What happens if there’s a Wi-Fi outage? Will the data I’m capturing be lost?
That’s where Command Cloud comes in. Designed to address real-world challenges, Command Cloud enables facilities of any size to operate confidently during Wi-Fi outages without the risk of losing valuable data.
This blog covers:
- If Command Cloud functions properly without Wi-Fi
- What staff can expect if a facility loses Wi-Fi
- How much internal storage SPARTAN devices contain
- How to protect a Wi-Fi network to avoid any bandwidth and connectivity hiccups
- What Warriors have experienced an outage, and how they managed to overcome it
Can Command Cloud Function Without Wi-Fi?
In short, yes – Command Cloud can function without Wi-F. However, we strongly recommend using Wi-Fi for several important reasons.
First, corrections professionals need access to real-time information. It’s not enough to know what happened 30 minutes ago, four hours ago, or last Friday — they need to know what’s happening now. Wi-Fi enables officers, supervisors, administrators, and any authorized personnel to access up-to-the-minute data across the facility. Without it, critical insights can be delayed by hours or longer.
Command Cloud is a cloud-native system built to ensure that all captured data is instantaneously uploaded, connected, and synced. This keeps electronic logs updated in real time, giving corrections staff immediate access to the latest data.
When officer devices are synchronized, the data they collect — including security rounds, med passes, supply passes, meal offers, and other key inmate interactions — is automatically uploaded to the cloud and made visible across all connected devices. Wi-Fi allows this data to be seamlessly pushed to the internal reporting platform and shared in real time with other staff using Command Cloud’s Mobile Command XR, which runs on SPARTAN, GUARDIAN RFID’s ultra-rugged Android device.
If your facility chooses to onboard Command Cloud without Wi-Fi, you will need to rely solely on the Ethernet charging cradles (otherwise known as SPARTAN chargers) to sync data. This means that officers must frequently dock their SPARTANs – if not after every log captured – to stay updated on all facility data inputs.
For example, if an officer is conducting an inmate movement, they are responsible for documenting that with Mobile Command XR. Then they have to rush back to the Ethernet cradles, regardless of their location in the facility, to drop in their SPARTAN and wait to ensure the data they captured syncs to the cloud. SPARTANs will only sync and update the cloud when connected to Wi-Fi (in this case, the Ethernet cradles). Otherwise, the data is temporarily stored on the device until a connection is available.
If officers can't regularly access the cradles to sync their devices, the entire facility loses real-time visibility into which responsibilities are open, pending, or completed. Since officers often juggle multiple tasks, they don’t have time to return to Ethernet cradles after each one. The longer it takes for one officer to sync, the longer the rest of the team is left in the dark.
This setback eliminates real-time insights, increases the risk of miscommunication, and creates operational blind spots. It's a key reason correctional facilities have been reluctant to adopt proprietary guard tour systems that lack Wi-Fi connectivity.
While Command Cloud can technically operate without Wi-Fi, it’s not the recommended setup. Officers need access to up-to-date information continuously, not just when they’re near a cradle. That said, Command Cloud is built to work offline when needed, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of correctional environments.
What if a Facility Loses Wi-Fi? What Can Staff Expect From Command Cloud?
When working in a jail or prison, unexpected things will happen, such as experiencing a Wi-Fi outage during the most inconvenient time.
Command Cloud is prepared for these unforeseen moments.
Mobile Command XR was built with internal storage and operates as a store-and-go system. Any data that can’t be uploaded immediately is stored locally on the device until it is reconnected. So, if a Wi-Fi outage occurs, officers can continue using their SPARTAN as they normally would, just as if Wi-Fi were still working.
Once the connection is restored, all stored data automatically uploads to the cloud and syncs with Mission Command. The Command Cloud system ensures continuity without missing a beat.
How much internal storage is available in the SPARTAN?
Simply put, SPARTAN is built to handle a lot. With 32GB of storage and 3GB of RAM, it’s more than capable of storing critical data locally. In fact, some agencies have operated without power for up to six weeks and still retained all their SPARTAN-collected data without issue.
One important note about offline use: when Wi-Fi is unavailable, the Mobile Compliance Monitor (MCM) in Mobile Command XR will update only on the device of the officer performing the check. It will not reflect on other officers’ devices or in the Compliance Monitor within Mission Command until connectivity is restored.
This is because real-time syncing requires an active Wi-Fi connection. That said, MCM continues to track and log all activity offline, securely storing the data on the officer’s device. Once a Wi-Fi connection is restored, all stored data automatically syncs with Mission Command and updates across all connected systems.
To guarantee a seamless transition when Wi-Fi reconnects, it’s important to regularly check your connection and bandwidth to confirm it’s stable, secure, and performing as expected.
How can I protect my Wi-Fi?
You can protect your Wi-Fi using a combination of approaches, including the suggestions below:
- SSID: Decide whether to hide or publish your SSID (Service Set Identifier). Hiding it alone doesn’t mean it’s completely blind, but it’s a good measure. Hackers have the tools to sniff traffic from your network, work to discover the SSID, and try to force an intrusion. This is not likely, but it’s possible. However, broadcasting your SSID openly invites others to attempt to connect to your network.
- Password: Set a strong username and password for your Wi-Fi (at least 20 characters long with numbers, letters, and symbols).
- Encryption: Activate network encryption. WPA2 AES is a global standard. It will be replaced by WP3, which uses individualized data encryption that scrambles the connection between each device on the network and the router. Always try to use WPA2 with AES only. You should avoid the WPA [TKIP] + WPA2 [AES] option as it’s much less secure.
- MAC filtering: This is up to you, but MAC address filtering adds an extra layer to this process. Before letting any device join the network, the router checks the device's MAC address against a list of approved addresses. If the client's address matches one on the router's list, access is granted as usual; otherwise, it's blocked from joining.
In full disclosure, GUARDIAN RFID does not sell, install, or support any Wi-Fi network. Instead, we recommend deferring to your internal IT department or networking vendor for all Wi-Fi-related questions.
Success Measured in Firsthand Outcomes
If your facility experiences an unexpected Wi-Fi outage *knock on wood*, just know that you aren’t the first and won’t be the last. We’ve had several customers suddenly lose Wi-Fi or power and reach out to us in a panic. Whether the outage is due to a cybersecurity incident, natural disaster, ransomware attack, a literal wire being cut, etc., our response is the same:
“Don’t worry, just keep scanning with the SPARTAN.”
In every instance, once Wi-Fi was restored and SPARTANs were reconnected to Wi-Fi, all their offline activity immediately synced to the Cloud and updated across all SPARTAN screens—as promised. One of the many agencies that experienced an abrupt Wi-Fi outage and relied on GUARDIAN RFID technology to continue capturing data was the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida.
Since August 2012, the Polk County Sheriff's Office has relied on GUARDIAN RFID solutions to ensure continuous inmate documentation. Like many Florida agencies, Polk County was no stranger to environmental factors, such as hurricanes and lightning storms, interrupting facility power and derailing staff operations.
When one such outage impacted Polk County, most of the staff’s day-to-day responsibilities were also temporarily disrupted—except for one.
GUARDIAN RFID never missed a beat..
“Our operations remained untouched,” said Tom Laurell, a GUARDIAN RFID JailOps Specialist and former Major at Polk County with 27 years of corrections experience.
"The SPARTANs’ internal storage proved invaluable, allowing staff to continue performing cell checks and scanning inmate ID cards offline. Once connectivity was re-established, all data automatically synchronized with the servers, ensuring no loss of critical information. This reliable offline capability was a decisive advantage in our long-standing partnership with GUARDIAN RFID.”
Polk County Processing Center | Image from Polk County Sheriff's Office Instagram account
While Wi-Fi outages are an inevitable part of modern life, Command Cloud ensures that your facility is prepared for the unexpected. Designed with corrections professionals in mind, Command Cloud empowers officers to continue to work seamlessly even when connectivity fails. With the SPARTAN’s robust internal storage, officers can trust that critical data captured won’t be lost. Whether you’re dealing with an outage that lasts a few hours or a few weeks, Command Cloud will keep your operations running smoothly, so you can focus on what matters most - safety, security, compliance, and getting your team home safe.
