IBM

Intelligent Infrastructure in Defence

Governments around the world have had to reconsider their defence priorities in the light of recent world events. Today, there is often no clearly-defined enemy - threats are much more diverse and unpredictable than in the past. Small, localised conflicts add to this unpredictability.

The scope of defence and military activities has also broadened - many countries are moving away from unilateral defence policies and are engaging in an international framework. As a result, countries conduct operations in diverse regions and work with several allies. They, therefore, need to be more flexible, to adapt more rapidly and to deploy their army, navy and air forces as part of an integrated response.

All these pressures mean that defence organisations need to consider new ways of operating. Historically, defence forces have relied on unique and customised Information Technology (IT) solutions. These specialised solutions need expert support, with extensive bespoke training to ensure system integrity and operational efficiency.

When it comes to IT systems, the defence industry is little different from a traditional business environment. Like businesses, defence forces have a set budget in which to work and they strive to increase effectiveness at reduced costs. As a result, the defence industry is starting to turn to traditional IT business practices.

The challenge facing the defence industry today is how to use IT to improve collaboration between many parties and minimise decision time. IBM understands this challenge and has already implemented its business-based solutions for many governments and defence forces worldwide. IBM's proven solutions have helped them leverage existing platforms and assets, streamline operations, reduce costs and take the pain out of maintenance and service.

There is immense scope for applying commercial methods and solutions to the defence area. IT is IT, no matter where you use it, and solid, future-proofed IT platforms are needed to ensure seamless operation.

IBM's focus within the defence industry is in areas where it has proven capability. By building on lessons learnt, IBM can reuse successful ideas, concepts and designs to provide solutions that are fast to deliver, reduce risk and lower cost.

One of these areas is Information Infrastructure. An organisation is only as good as the underlying IT infrastructure that supports it. IBM is able to manage, provide and integrate all the infrastructure components, with implementation and maintenance services that ensure compatibility and interoperability - a genuinely end-to-end managed service capability.

The world is rapidly moving to ever more intelligent and effective infrastructures delivered through enabling technologies and services. These allow the organisation to manage and operate more efficiently.

The transition of an organisation that has been 'project' or 'stove pipe' based, to embrace the enterprise integration approach, presents political commercial and technical challenges.

IBM has been through such a transformation and is helping many world-class organisations through a similar process. The transformation addresses business process and governance, leading to programmes to address applications, and infrastructure and establish a common operating environment that delivers benefits where they are needed - at the user's fingertips.

The business model is changing from acquisition to service delivery, intelligent infrastructure plays a key role in enabling the Service provider to improve performance and drive down operating costs. IBM spends over $6billion a year on IT research and development - more than any of its competitors. As a result, its future-proofed solutions are backed-up by the latest in innovative technology, delivered through business relationships that include on demand, utility and grid computing.

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