Telecommunications Security Standards {TESS+}

About {TESS+}

Telecommunications Security Standards {TESS+}

Ensuring the safety and security of UN and NGO personnel is a basic requirement for all field operations

Security Communications Systems (SCS) are often the only way for humanitarians to communicate in remote areas and under challenging conditions.

Security communications systems are vital for connecting and supporting UN and NGO personnel during security incidents, while dispatching or receiving timely information, and following movements of field missions and convoys.

Providing the right tools - in terms of connectivity systems, applications and procedures - for the Security Communications Systems, is the key goal of a collaborative initiative called “Telecommunications Security Standards” {TESS+}.

 A standardized solution to keep humanitarians safe

The Inter-Agency Security Management Network (IASMN) and the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) initiated the TESS project in May 2018. WFP led the creation of this collaborative, inter-agency initiative.

TESS is the inter-agency coordination structure mandated by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) to make clear recommendations and provide hands-on support to standardize SCS for the UN and non-governmental organisation (NGO) personnel globally.

While TESS consists of a small core team of technical specialists, it depends on collaboration with UN and NGO partners, online networks and partnerships with the private and public sectors as well as academia.

In June 2020, the TESS project transformed into a permanent support service called {TESS+}, coordinated by WFP. The {TESS+} Service Charter is available here.

{TESS+} services are split up into:

• Normative services: standards design, testing, documentation, field assessments and SCS status monitoring.

• Field support services: standards implementation support, on-demand support.

• Operational process support: coordination of all global and field-level services.

{TESS+} services cover three layers:

1. Connectivity: The hardware that physically connects the users and security personnel into a Security Communications System.

2. Applications: The software components that runs on the connectivity layer and provides security management functions to both personnel and security personnel.

3. Procedures: The implementation of technologies through standardised security procedures.

Useful links:

• The {TESS+} Public Library (no log in needed) can be found here. 

• {TESS+} VHF training modules and manuals are available in the {TESS+} Public Library. Click on "TESS VHF training & manuals" from the main page.

• Read the {TESS+} Service Charter here.