Business Objects solution selected for counter-terrorism system in the US

The US government has identified business intelligence software as a highly effective way to improve the sharing of security data.

Preparation is key to proactively responding to a terrorist attack. With terrorism affecting both economic developments and safety within our communities, it is imperative that government bodies adopt an effective system that enables them to act immediately to possible terrorist threats.

Business intelligence can provide a strategic function in any country`s security efforts by offering products designed to counter terrorism. With Business Objects WebIntelligence for example, the government can have the only tool necessary to access, analyse and share information relating to possible terrorist threats, activities and identities.

"The US government has identified business intelligence software as a highly effective way to consolidate, streamline access to, and improve the sharing of homeland security data," said Gary Lawrence, country manager of Business Objects in SA. "Using WebIntelligence, the participating government agencies around the globe now have easy, secure access to TIPOFF information. They are able to quickly analyse the data to proactively identify threats and share this information across all agencies."

The US State Department`s TIPOFF, developed by The Analysis Corporation in Fairfax, Virginia, provides federal agencies with a common database where they can share information of all kinds relating to possible terrorist threats, activities and identities.

Initially conceived as a strategic "in-house" system for the US State Department, the events of 11 September 2001 changed these plans dramatically.

The Analysis Corporation worked closely with Business Objects to develop a new version of the TIPOFF Program that extends the solution to counter-terrorist agencies around the globe. Business Objects pioneered the extranet market in the corporate sector five years ago, helping companies share information securely with their customers, partners and suppliers.

Today, Business Objects has hundreds of extranet customers in the corporate sector, and is the standard for information sharing in many industries. The Analysis Corporation turned to Business Objects for this same technology and expertise to provide a secure, Web-based platform to rapidly deploy critical intelligence information worldwide.

Using WebIntelligence from Business Objects, TIPOFF users can easily access counter-terrorism intelligence data using a simple Web browser and perform ad hoc queries and reporting. For example, federal agencies can compare information from US Visa applications against the counter-terrorism data in TIPOFF to help prevent suspected terrorists from gaining entry into the US.

"With information being the only weapon against terrorism, business intelligence provides a strategic function in any country`s security efforts and has already proven its effectiveness in the war against terrorism in countries as large as America," says Lawrence. "The collection, evaluation, processing, dissemination and protection of government information can be as asset to any country in Africa or abroad," concludes Lawrence.