The core of COTAK is its military-grade TAK Server, which is deployed in a secure cloud-computing environment and provides AES-256 encrypted connections to the TAK apps over any available internet connection including cellular service. The TAK Server uses these encrypted connections to route messages containing the GPS locations of first responders, as well as other information such as shapes or chat messages shared between responders. The end result of this system is that first responders using the TAK app can see the real-time location of other responders and other important information using the app.