Why Rugged Laptops are Critical USCG Equipment

U.S. Coast Guard equipment consists of technology that allows for the successful monitoring of U.S. maritime interests and seamless communication between command and deployed vessels. Rugged laptops that can withstand the tough environments where the USCG operates are vital tools.

Maritime Challenges to USCG Equipment

The reality of working in the USCG can wreak havoc on your hardware. The USCG operates in a variety of challenging environments, often exposed to salt water, rough seas, high waves, sand, and extreme temperatures.

These environments stress USCG equipment in a number of unique ways:

• Durability: Water, salt, sand, and extreme temperature shifts create a surefire recipe for device failure — if you're using hardware that isn't built for the challenge.
• Connectivity: USCG technology keeps mariners connected even in remote areas. To do this, devices need to be capable of maintaining connectivity when standard Wi-fi is unavailable. Conversely, it is just as important that devices are capable of disconnecting when needed to maintain security.
• Security: As with any military technology, USCG equipment is susceptible to attacks from outside actors trying to gain access to military information. USCG equipment needs strong security to protect vital information.
• Portability: Transitioning from sea to land across the American shoreline creates a need for devices that can meet all the above challenges while still being easily portable and designed for use in the field.

Why Consumer Devices Don’t Meet the Needs of USCG

To minimize upfront costs, it may be tempting to look to consumer devices to fill the technological needs of the USCG. The reality is that decision may lead to a number of unseen costs which result in a higher total cost of ownership (TCO) in the long term.

Coast Guard Equipment Demands Durability

Consumer devices are designed to be used in stable, temperature-controlled office settings. That’s as far as you can get from the maritime environments where the USCG regularly operates. With consumer devices, a bright sunny day can make screens unreadable and devices unusable. Rain or saltwater can lead to device failure or, on touchscreen devices, create false inputs as the moisture is mistaken for a touch command.

Even in more ideal use cases, consumer devices have been shown to fail at three times the rate of rugged devices. This leads to more repairs/replacements, more time offline, and more long-term costs: any of which can be potentially dangerous in the world of defense technology.

Rugged Laptops Allow for Better Adaptability

A laptop for field work needs to perform in a wide variety of conditions. Consumer devices that function well in stable settings may be difficult to use on the move and lack the computing power or usability for tasks that require more processing.

TOUGHBOOK devices are designed to fulfill many USCG needs.

• Rugged Laptops: Our TOUGHBOOK 40 and TOUGHBOOK 55 models offer maximum computing power and security while still providing the durability expected in a rugged laptop. These military laptops serve as technological workhorses in even the most challenging environments.
• 2-in-1s: The TOUGHBOOK 33 and TOUGHBOOK G2 are mobile solutions that work just as well on at sea and on land. The 2-in-1 capability allows mariners to use these devices in the field as tablets or attach a portable keyboard to transform them into laptops.

As objectives change, so will the needs of USCG equipment. TOUGHBOOK provides modularity, allowing for the addition of expansion packs (xPAKs) that increase device capabilities.

IT and field staff can use the Blu-Ray player xPAK to load custom OS images and other data used in their fleet of aircraft or during maintenance applications. The rear expansion XPAKs offer legacy port connectivity, such as True Serial for Legacy Radio compatibility.

Purpose-Built USCG Equipment

To facilitate operational success, we ensure TOUGHBOOK laptops are the most reliable around. This all starts with our rigorous testing that doesn’t just meet, but exceeds MIL-STD-810H requirements and results in devices that are 72% more reliable than other rugged devices.

In addition to MIL-STD certification, TOUGHBOOK has features that are vital to USCG operations:

• Rugged laptops and devices are equipped with long-lasting batteries and hot-swap capabilities so they can be used continuously even in situations where charging is not possible.
• Mobile connectivity keeps devices operational. When Wi-Fi is out of range, cellular connectivity can enable data gathering, collection, and management, allowing service members to track quantities and locations of equipment, and share that available information instantly.
• 5G connectivity that provides speeds approximately 1.4 to 14 times faster than 4G, allowing devices to stay connected to other vessels, command, and even other devices, such as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS).
• All of our devices come installed with OPAL hard drives, which helps protect data with hardware encryption. We also offer Smart Compliance, powered by Eclypsium, which helps secure firmware.
• Panasonic Connect ProServices offers expertise throughout the lifespan of your devices. From procurement and deployment to expedited support fixing or replacing a device, our experts make sure you get the most from your tech.

TOUGHBOOK Rugged Laptops are Essential USCG Equipment

By protecting our maritime borders, the USCG ensures our safety and protects our vital ports and waterways.

It is critical to have the USCG equipment needed to achieve these goals. TOUGHBOOK rugged laptops are designed to be an integral part of their toolkit. For more on how TOUGHBOOK is built for the needs of the U.S. military, see our full suite of military solutions.