Cloud Biometrics to Reshape Law Enforcement in Western States

FOLSOM, CA – March 24, 2026 – A major technological shift is underway for law enforcement across the western United States. The Western Identification Network (WIN), a consortium serving eight states, announced it is upgrading its vast biometric database to a next-generation cloud platform. The move to NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA's Integra-ID® 7 system promises to equip hundreds of agencies with more powerful, faster, and diverse tools for identifying suspects and solving crimes.

This upgrade represents a significant departure from traditional, on-premises data systems, embracing a cloud-native architecture that will change how investigators in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming access and utilize a shared database of approximately 28 million biometric records. The modernization effort signals a broader trend in public safety, where agencies are increasingly trading aging local servers for the scalability, security, and continuous innovation offered by the cloud.

A New Frontier for Police Technology

The transition to Integra-ID® 7 is more than a simple software update; it is a fundamental re-architecting of WIN’s digital backbone. The new platform is built on a microservices-based architecture, a modern approach that breaks down large, monolithic applications into smaller, independent services. For the law enforcement agencies that rely on WIN, this translates into tangible benefits: higher system availability, simplified maintenance, and the ability to receive new features without the disruptive, large-scale “forklift” upgrades that have characterized legacy systems.

This continuous delivery model is a core advantage of the cloud-native approach. Instead of waiting years for major overhauls, agencies will see regular feature releases and security patches with minimal operational impact, allowing them to focus on investigations rather than system management.

“WIN has a long history of providing reliable, high-performance identification services to its member states,” said Chad Butler, Chief Executive Officer of WIN. “By upgrading to the latest release of Integra-ID 7, WIN is positioning its agencies to take advantage of cloud-native innovation, advanced biometrics, and continuous delivery of new capabilities without the disruption of traditional system upgrades.”

Beyond Fingerprints: Expanding the Investigative Toolkit

Perhaps the most significant aspect of the upgrade is the expansion of biometric and investigative capabilities. While fingerprints remain a cornerstone of forensic science, the Integra-ID 7 platform moves far beyond them, incorporating multiple biometric modalities to create a more comprehensive identification system.

For the first time, WIN member agencies will gain access to iris biometric template storage and matching. Iris recognition is prized for its exceptional accuracy and the stability of the iris pattern throughout a person’s life. It offers a powerful, touchless method for identification that can succeed even when fingerprints are damaged, worn, or otherwise unusable—a common challenge for investigators. The technology is already used by federal agencies for border security and is seen as a critical tool for rapid and reliable field identification.

The upgrade also introduces robust capabilities for storing and matching scars, marks, and tattoos (SMT). Often considered “soft biometrics,” these physical characteristics provide invaluable clues for law enforcement. Tattoos can indicate gang affiliation, while scars and other marks can be unique identifiers that help narrow down suspect lists or identify victims. By integrating SMT data directly into the primary biometric search system, investigators can run more comprehensive queries and uncover connections that might otherwise be missed.

Further enhancements include new ACE-V (Analysis, Comparison, Evaluation, and Verification) web applications for latent case processing, allowing forensic examiners to more efficiently analyze crime scene prints through a modern web-based interface.

Securing Sensitive Data in the Cloud

Moving one of the nation's largest regional biometric databases to the cloud raises immediate questions about security and privacy. Handling this type of sensitive data requires strict adherence to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Security Policy, a comprehensive set of standards governing the protection of criminal justice information.

NEC's Integra-ID 7 platform is designed to meet these stringent requirements. Compliance involves a multi-layered security strategy, including end-to-end encryption of data both in transit and at rest, rigorous access controls, and multi-factor authentication for all users. Furthermore, cloud service providers handling this data must undergo extensive audits and have their personnel pass fingerprint-based background checks. The new platform ensures that as WIN modernizes its capabilities, it maintains the strict security posture required by federal law and expected by the public.

This focus on security addresses a long-standing hesitation within the public sector regarding cloud adoption. However, the industry consensus has shifted, with many experts now arguing that the massive, dedicated security teams and advanced infrastructure of major cloud providers offer a higher level of protection than most individual agencies can afford to maintain on-premises.

Modernizing a Regional Powerhouse

Since its formation in 1988, WIN has been a pioneer in multi-state data sharing, enabling agencies to identify individuals who move across state lines. This upgrade ensures the consortium remains at the forefront of law enforcement technology.

The shift to a continuously updated cloud environment allows WIN to keep pace with evolving threats and technological advancements, reducing its operational burden and freeing up resources.

“NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA is proud to support the Western Identification Network in its mission to provide reliable, secure, and advanced identification services to its member states,” said Eugene Le Roux, Senior Vice President at NEC CORPORATION OF AMERICA. “With the latest release of Integra-ID 7, WIN gains a cloud-native platform designed to keep pace with evolving security requirements, deliver continuous innovation, and ensure agencies have the modern biometric tools they need to solve cases faster and operate with greater confidence.”

As law enforcement agencies nationwide grapple with budget constraints and the need to do more with less, WIN's strategic investment in a cloud-native future serves as a powerful model for leveraging technology to enhance public safety and streamline complex, multi-jurisdictional investigations.