Industry Interview: Ultra Electronics Criticom
MIT 2010 Volume: 14 Issue: 3 (April)
Bill Sapp
Q: What can you tell readers about your company?
A: At Ultra Electronics Criticom, we see ourselves as a trusted adviser to the Department of Defense for its secure video communications needs. Since 1990, we’ve provided end-to-end video teleconferencing (VTC) systems in support of DoD’s evolving mission. We enable secure, agile video conferencing anywhere, from command and control to the tip of the spear.
Our flagship product line, ISEC, automates crucial network and security level switching processes needed to make secure VTC calls across the DoD enterprise. This is a mission-critical requirement, especially important for military organizations. Today, our solutions are deployed throughout DoD and, increasingly, in support of operations overseas. Many of our in-theater video units are currently being used to connect defense leadership closer to “the edge.”
We’re also a full-service video conferencing value-added reseller, and have established partnerships with best of class technology providers, including Tandberg, Polycom, Radvision and Cisco. In addition to our own technology support and maintenance centers, we have direct access to our videoconferencing suppliers’ escalated support services on behalf of our valued customers.
Q: How would you describe DoD’s teleconferencing needs today?
A: The Defense Information Systems Agency and DoD continue to focus on converging their communications and improving capabilities that support agile information sharing across the full spectrum of operations. This scope includes command center and in-theater operations, as well as international missions involving coalition partners.
Expanding DoD’s communications reach and shifting toward faster, more efficient information sharing across differing security levels has created a demand for VTC solutions that are mobile, fail-safe and easy to use. To achieve this, today’s VTC solutions must automate time and labor-intensive processes and simplify the video conferencing experience to accommodate users who don’t have a technical background. The goal is to help DoD users quickly connect and establish secure lines of communication when the mission is critical, while enforcing rigorous security requirements.
There also is demand for video solutions that can operate across differing network types in order to seamlessly integrate communications and network resources throughout the DoD enterprise infrastructure. And, of course, information assurance is a high priority. DoD users want certified VTC solutions that they can trust.
Q: What are some of the key issues DoD specialists are dealing with in providing teleconferencing services?
A: As DISA and DoD aim to adopt newer, IP-based technology platforms, there is a growing need for automated video solutions that can connect VTC calls between IP and ISDN-based networks. At the same time, many DoD users require that these VTC calls also traverse classified and unclassified networks. A perfect example of this is establishing VTC calls over the SIPRNet and NIPRNet, which typically involves multiple security levels and network types.
Before, this process would have to be performed manually, and it could potentially take hours to establish a single call. Now, with a flip of a single switch, we offer a solution that bridges this gap in a few minutes, automating hundreds of processes needed to establish secure/non-secure video connections between IP and ISDN networks. It’s a solution that promotes simplicity, while upholding the highest levels of information assurance. In fact, our ISEC solution is the only system that is both DoD and DISA-certified for this requirement, and has “approved to operate” status.
Q: How is military use of teleconferencing technology changing and growing?
A: Deployable units that can connect command and control with operations at “the edge” are the new face of video conferencing. Today, our ISEC solutions are simplifying the technical processes needed to make this a reality, as well as accelerating the time it takes to make a secure/non-secure VTC call between networks. Our ruggedized video conference units are built for mobility and can quickly ship to wherever communications are needed most. Most importantly, the mobile user in the field doesn’t need a technical background to make a VTC call, and can do so in minutes.
Video walls are another growing trend. In line with DoD’s objective to converge information sharing capabilities, today’s video walls can aggregate and display data from multiple users or computers in a variety of formats: computer displays, streaming media, IP camera feeds, surveillance camera feeds, cable network feeds, DVDs and other network-accessible devices. Especially in collaborative scenarios, where a large community of interest is involved, the ability to display information on the command center screen from multiple organizations—at the same time—offers a tremendous tactical advantage. We’re proud to support DoD in designing, implementing and managing several of these video wall systems.
With new technology come powerful new opportunities for collaboration and information sharing. As DoD advances its communications to the next level, I believe that video will continue to play a leading role in the move to unified communications. Whether deployed in-theater or on a collaborative video screen, expect to see this communications platform deliver even more value as it converges with other technologies, providing one seamless solution to meet the mission at hand. To achieve this, however, tomorrow’s video-based systems must have the ability to quickly traverse differing network environments and security levels—and we’ll continue to support defense agencies in meeting this need. ♦