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Defending Australia and its National Interests

Chief Information Officer

Flexibility through technology

Blackberry

By Adam Purtell

Chief Information Officer Group's (CIOG) mission is to ensure that the Department of Defence has a secure and integrated information network in which to do business. CIOG is constantly looking for ways to enhance security of the information network and innovative ways to improve how employees can do their jobs effectively and efficiently. Improvements to the Defence Remote Access System (DRAS), the introduction of the BlackBerry and encryption of Defence Restricted laptops demonstrate the group's commitment to provide the leading edge in information technology usage, improved security, flexibility and mobility for our workforce.

A BlackBerry device (pictured right) provides a dual-purpose digital mobile phone and business tools handheld computer that has the following features:

  • email services
  • calendaring
  • SMS
  • Internet via Defence Gateway security
  • real-time synchronisation when in phone range.

The BlackBerry offers a number of advantages over the separate Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. These advantages include:

Improved flexibility: The ability to make phone calls, or view, compose, forward or reply to emails, contacts and calendars remotely, without any additional equipment. The BlackBerry is permanently connected to the Defence Restricted Network (DRN), so there is no need to go back into the office between appointments; you can conduct Defence business from where you are.

End-to-end security: All data and applications are secure; emails are compressed, encrypted and remain secure while in transit and on the handset. Further, in the event of loss, the BlackBerry can be remotely disabled and the data in it erased.

The BlackBerry handheld device was approved for use in government organisations up to a Restricted level by the Defence Signals Directorate (DSD). BlackBerry will enable customers to roam the globe and remain connected to the DRN. Currently the BlackBerry solution is available only to Senior Leadership Group members. However, CIOG is developing a business case for deployment of the BlackBerry solution to other Defence staff with mobile phones and PDAs.

In addition to the BlackBerry device, CIOG provides convenient access to DRN services through DRAS. DRAS has been available for many years and operates from a Defence laptop, dialling into a private network that connects to the DRN. This service allows any person who has an enabled account to conduct business in a secure and efficient manner. Requests for all IT services, including DRAS, are made through the IT Service Desk on 133 272.

CIOG recently reviewed the DRAS service and identified many areas for improvement. A major change has been the accreditation for DRAS to operate through broadband access, greatly increasing the speed available for users. Those with access to an existing broadband connection may now use DRAS through this connection.

Securing mobile computing

In concert with the changes to DRAS, CIOG is implementing an Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) recommendation to secure the contents of Defence laptop computers. The Laptop Encryption Project will roll out across all Defence Restricted laptops with a software encryption package. This package is a DSD-approved product that significantly enhances the security of the local hard drive of a laptop computer.

The project will commence delivery in June 2006, with the encryption software being mailed to all operators of departmental laptops with a comprehensive package of instructions and guides. The software can be easily installed, and the disk encryption will take approximately one hour. Support services are available to assist installation of the software, and contact details are provided in the distribution pack.

The installation of the encryption software on all Defence Restricted laptops is mandatory. The user will need to certify that they have installed the software on the laptop and return the certificate as described in the distribution pack.

Any laptops incapable of operating the software due to age, specification or operating system (for example, Win98, MacOS and Linux) and requiring access to classified or in-confidence information will be withdrawn from service and replaced by CIOG. Concerns about this process should be referred to the IT Service Desk. After the initial rollout, the software will be installed on newly purchased Defence laptops before delivery.

With the privilege to conduct Defence business outside the general office environment comes the responsibility to continue to conduct this business in a manner that protects Defence information. Despite the application of technology to information security, there is an obligation on users to provide security commensurate with the information available to them.

Adam Purtell works in CIOG's Information Systems Division.

Photograph, caption follows

This diagram shows the number of PCs that CIO Group has upgraded to Microsoft Windows XP as at 22 May 2006. Visit the CIO Group website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/ciogweb/ for the most recent figures.

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