The Hindu Business Line : `Indian software cos can tap $44-b US spend on security'

INDIAN software firms have a new window of opportunity just waiting to be opened, albeit through joint partnerships with US firms. The US Government plans to spend $44 billion on strengthening the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by integrating disparate IT systems of various units such as the Coast Guard and Customs.

Systems Integration and architecture integration are a few of the services that Indian companies can target, according to Dr James Jay Carafano, Senior Research Fellow, Defence and Homeland Security, The Heritage Foundation.

Speaking to Business Line here on the sidelines of the ongoing Nasscom Leadership Forum, Dr Carafano said Indian firms could look at providing outsourced services to the DHS in collaboration with American technology firms such as Lockheed Martin which are already "doing some amount of work for the Department of Homeland Security. The only major challenge to a collaborative effort between Indian firms and the US Government via American companies is the political factor," Dr Carafano said.

Incidentally, the Homeland Security system has clumped various departments like customs, coast guard and international affairs together, and this is where the opportunity lies for Indian software firms.

IT service providers could work on development of an integrated platform allowing for `disaster preparedness' and security framework modules. "India can chalk out a similar programme as the DHS. For instance, the Government could harness the GIS (geographic information system) capabilities of Reliance Infocomm as part of the national disaster preparedness programme," remarked Dr Carafano.

He urged the Indian Government and software sector to work with the US for creating an international security framework. The US has already initiated a collaborative partnership with Latin America.

Outlining his vision for the future, Dr Carafano said datamining and shared inter-operable databases would be the key technology tools for mutual bilateral technology initiatives, especially when the US would internationalise its efforts for homeland security.