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Information & Communication Technology (ICT) Integration & Support – Defense markets

Technology plays a key role in our very existence, whether we like it or not. Each day, as part of our day to day lives, we use in excess of 300 different computer systems, ranging from the automated highway toll system when driving to work, to being at home and making a telephone call to book a hospital appointment. Such dependency extends from what may be a simple convenience to something that may prove to be life saving, the stakes can be high. Areas of civil defence, public order, border control, etc all increase both the risks and dependencies of ICT for national security. It does not get much bigger than this.

Looking at the specific needs of defence related activities, ICT technology is both embedded and distributed; it is stand alone and networked; it is localized and international. With more unilateral defence polices, the need to procure, support, and integrate technologies becomes a requirement. The result is that whilst security rules as a local requirement, the need to create a more open and integrated ICT infrastructure, that forms the basis for collaboration at operational and informational levels with both allies and suppliers, is key. Customized solutions offer very little opportunity to achieve this. They are also in demand of bespoke support, extensive customization and high operating costs. The budgets associated with such a need are a big drain on any country’s finances.

The challenge for any civil and national defence organization is to not waste valuable resources in developing, implementing and supporting what are ICT systems; it must remain focused on its core competencies. It is easy for technology needs to spiral and for technology support teams to grow with their related costs and manpower needs. Often national security limits the ability to outsource such activities although it is the preferred option for many private sector companies. But such a path is still a very viable and real option that many governments have not fully realized, that is still very effective and does not compromise.

CNS is an United Arab Emirates based company, which has been working for many years with many government organizations such as the UAE Armed Forces. It plays a role as an ICT technology provider, integrator and maintainer of backend business based ICT solutions that are essential to day to day operations throughout the emirates. It represents the leading best-of-breed infrastructure suppliers that include HP, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco, etc and best-in-class specialist suppliers such as Symantec, IBM, etc.

These partners have enabled CNS to deliver ICT as a collaborative, secure, saleable and robust solution, on a repeatable basis. Such solutions can vary from national identity systems to local logistics solutions. CNS is able to bring traditional ICT best practices to defence industries to ensure that projects run on time and to budget.

As an independent, CNS is not tied to a set technology or a product range from a single supplier. We are able to offer unbiased advice in selecting the best technologies and integrating these. We operate collaboratively and in partnership with all suppliers but will challenge any claims made in terms of specifications and benchmarks if required.

As with any ICT solution, the infrastructure is the corner stone to the effectiveness of the operations it supports. CNS specializes in the infrastructure, that ranges from the design, build and management covering; complete data centres (up to Tier III); structured cabling that enables communication between devices; servers, blades, storage devices; networks (LAN/WAN/WLAN); and the middleware that ‘glues’ these technologies together. Such a fully integrated solution is then future proofed with services that ensure continued future functionality and performance.

The maturity and effectiveness demanded today from governments at all levels means that ICT systems have to be supported under strict operational procedures that are internationally recognized. Such recognition comes both from standards such as ISO200000 for ICT service management and ISO270001 for ICT information security management, plus best practices such as ITIL (Information Technology Infrastructure Library) which is a set of policies and concepts for managing ICT. Such governance is a critical requirement for in-house and out sourced ICT organizations.

CNS has created a portfolio of service products that are available to both private and public sector companies, to help them quickly achieve such levels of governance. With its Engage!CNS advisory & professional services product CNS can help in designing and implementing a transition plan to get full compliance within acceptable time scales. This is achieved by using pre-created run books and process that address ICT management from change control to crisis management.

If the requirements for managing ICT in-house is considered to be too expensive or too complex then the Leverage!CNS service product is an ideal solution that will enable non sensitive or non classified areas of the ICT infrastructure to be managed by an external organization. Leverage!CNS does what its name implies, it will enable a department or organization to leverage the skills and resources that CNS has in managing ICT by delivering Managed Services that will run parts of the operation.

There is an obvious balance between commercial and operational needs. The total cost of ownership of any ICT solution must be managed but without potential compromise to national security and defence capabilities. Whilst technology can be inhibitor it can also be an enabler. Complex and highly effective encryption enable secure networks (VPN etc) to be used in supporting ICT systems either locally within the government office or department or remotely in a country based support centre.

Such services can be delivered off shore both technically and operationally. However recent technical problems with under sea data cables have illustrated the vulnerability of technology to natural disasters and also potentially hostile human events.

In conclusion ICT plays a very critical role in every aspect of daily life and also future national prosperity and security. Specific to defence there are obvious complexities and conditions that limit the way ICT can be implemented and managed but the benefits are there; to exploit; to simplify; and to reduce cost.

About CNS

CNS is firmly established as one the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) foremost technology integrators and has rapidly positioned itself as a leading managed services company in the public & private sector. Over twenty years of operations provides unrivalled experience in matching business requirements with the most scalable & robust ICT technology solutions. We deliver high level advisory & professional services based on the proven DREAM methodology developed by CNS. A best of-breed and best-in-class approach to technology solutions ensures we have the best product portfolio to select from. This is expertly complemented by a comprehensive range of branded services, that together future proofs any ICT investment.

About the author

Brian Perrins is a Senior Marketing Manager at CNS, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. He has worked for such major ICT companies as Sun Microsystems and Cisco at international levels. Previously he worked for a UK based Security Solutions house selling Perimeter Intruder Detection Systems using Neural Networks and Artificial Intelligence technologies in Latin America and Eastern Europe.

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Email: info@cns-me.com
Website: www.cns-me.com

 

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