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Security/Intelligence Community Unites

BY Nathalie Gervais, Senior Communications Officer, Information Management Services

Employees in federal institutions working in the security/intelligence field have for a long time coped with a paper burden that makes their work more difficult. Security/intelligence officers (SIOs) and community staff with similar responsibilities often have a need to store and share protected information. In addition, they have frequently had to deal with the inconveniences caused by the slowness of the data exchange process. Since there has never before been a network that can handle sensitive information, delays and difficulties in information sharing, along with the problems of retrieving and analyzing information contained on hard copy, have been common.

But traditional intelligence gathering, analysis and dissemination of security intelligence information will soon be enhanced. Information Management Services (IMS) has been gradually installing the Secure Intelligence Network (SINet) since the beginning of summer 2005. All information sent on the network will be encrypted. Once it is up and running, SINet will have 175 interconnected workstations, located in all of the institutions, parole offices, and regional and national headquarters.

In addition to the network, IMS has developed a report distribution tool (RDT) to address the sensitive information issue. It will allow employees working in the intelligence field to electronically store and share sensitive information (Protected “C” and above) from dedicated laptops that have been enhanced with security features for this purpose.

Before embarking on this initiative, the IMS team consulted with the SIO community to identify deficiencies in the Service concerning sensitive information-sharing management. The community then identified three main needs: to be able to save and share information classified as Protected “C” and above; to have access to collaboration tools; and to use a high-efficiency research engine. Following the consultation, the IMS team worked diligently for months to set up a permanent network for the encryption and secure sharing of sensitive data, to develop an RDT to facilitate the saving and sharing of sensitive files via SINet, and to establish a new security/intelligence module.

The SINet module needs have been defined, and IMS expects to deploy the security/intelligence module over the course of this fiscal year. The module will operate somewhat like the Offender Management System (OMS), allowing classified inmate information (Protected “C” and above) to be stored and saved. Information stored on the system will be organized individually, opening up new and highly useful research possibilities that did not exist before.

This is good news for staff in the security/intelligence community who often need information or advice from SIOs in other parts of the country. By being aware of the security issues faced by the other institutions and their communities, SIOs will be able to better understand what is happening in their own backyard.This will result in better-informed staff, timely information sharing, and coordination of sensitive information analysis between various CSC staff working in the intelligence community.

Other critical information shared through SINet will include details concerning the witness protection program, gangs, incompatibilities, illegal activities and suspected illegal activities occurring in CSC facilities and in the community, as well as threats to staff members, offenders or the public at large, which are classified Protected “C” or above.

Once the necessary infrastructure is in place, the Secret Communications Interoperability Project (SCIP), an initiative sponsored by Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC, will be linked up with SINet by the end of 2007. This will allow SIOs from CSC to exchange and share sensitive information with other members of the security/intelligence community serving in various federal organizations, including the Canada Border Services Agency, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Firearms Centre. ♦