Defence to 'de-clutter' workstations

The Department of Defence has confirmed in its 2009 ICT report that it plans to implement a "single secure desktop" system that will allow defence personnel to access its restricted and secret networks from one terminal instead of two.

Currently defence personnel who need to access multiple networks need multiple computers on their desk.

A single screen connected to a network that can display multiple security sessions would be deployed as part of the Defence's ICT strategy, the Defence Information and Communications Technology Strategy 2009 report [PDF] said.

The system would use a combination of hardware and software and would "result in the introduction of multi-level information-sharing across security domains," the report said.

Data centre consolidation

Defence was also looking to deploy virtualisation technology to "reduce the complexity and duplication" of data centre tasks.

Defence would seek to standardise its ICT infrastructure investments through "virtualisation, rationalisation of the application portfolio and through the standardisation of supported technology and product platforms," the report said.

Defence estimated that it currently supports 200 data centre and server rooms. The cost of supporting those facilities was "difficult to quantify" and it said it had "under-estimated, under-resourced and under-planned" its data centre capability in the past.

"Defence is now addressing this under-investment and developing a coherent capability able to support both current and expected demand," the report said.

The data centre strategy and consolidation program would likely see the number of its facilities "reduced considerably," the report said.

Infrastructure remediation

The "risk" posed by the "advanced age of the Defence ICT fleet" would also be looked at under Defence's new ICT strategy.

A program would replace aging desktops, printers, laptops, monitors as well as PABX and other network equipment, the report said.

"It will also include server, storage and backup remediation spread over the next two financial years, as well as the replacement of all known out-of-warranty switch and router infrastructure."

The Minister for Defence, Senator John Faulkner, said that the ICT Strategy contained "several key initiatives" that would "increase efficiency and effectiveness" within Defence's ICT portfolio.

"The Defence ICT Strategy will strengthen the relationship between Defence's strategic objectives and enabling ICT capabilities," Senator Faulkner said.