Unisys has signed a multi-year, multimillion-dollar contract with US-based Transportation Security Administration (TSA), to build an infrastructure linking TSA workers through voice and data communications. TSA is an agency created by US Congress and President Bush in response to the 11 September terrorist attacks.
Under the managed services contract, Unisys and its partners will deliver IT and telecommunications hardware and software services; help desk, network or security operations and re-engineering services for the agency.
"This multi-layered communications and security infrastructure that includes hardware and software is driven by a structured security policy," says Geoff Tuck, regional sales director at Unisys Africa. "It represents a huge challenge to deal with a variety of airport authorities and agencies, but is a significant opportunity for Unisys to work with industry powerhouses on a world-class system."
TSA is expected to come under the umbrella of the new federal Department of Homeland Security and cover some 60 000 employees at 429 commercial airports throughout the country. Unisys will work with companies such as Cisco and Motorola, in addition to primary partners DynCorp Systems & Solutions and IBM, to build the infrastructure.
The managed services platform will integrate devices and technologies ranging from personal digital assistants (PDAs) and secure mobile radios to local- and wide-area wireless networks and business operations centres. It is designed to meet the White House Office of Management and Budget`s objective to invest in common infrastructure for the new Department of Homeland Security.
The government has the option to renew the three-year agreement for two additional two-year periods. Initial work orders for the government`s 2002 fiscal year, which ends 30 September, are valued at $23 million, rising to $221 million by 2003.
According to Matthew Kovar, an analyst from Yankee Group, Unisys and others are poised to cash in on a substantial market for managed security services. The market will grow from $1.5 billion in 2002 to $2.6 billion by 2005. Also, both corporations and government agencies are creating opportunities for these services with the increased use of communications networks, many of which are vulnerable to attack.
"There are so many new ways for workers to access information, and many organisations are beginning to realise that wireless in particular is an inherently insecure environment," says Kovar. "Unisys and Netsec, among others, are delivering security monitoring and assessment services to address the demand for protected communications."
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