Text 1979, 92 rader
Skriven 2005-01-15 20:29:32 av Ellen K. (1:379/45)
   Kommentar till text 1919 av Rich Gauszka (1:379/45)
Ärende: Re: New FBI computer system a bust
==========================================
From: Ellen K. <72322.enno.esspeayem.1016@compuserve.com>

I am increasingly of the opinion that nobody in the software industry
understands data any more.    I think the reason for this is that the OO
mindset thinks about data ONE INSTANCE OF AN ENTITY AT A TIME.   So now
they message objects around using web services instead of letting the database
do the work it can do faster, better and cheaper.  The whole data warehousing
thing in particular is made way more complicated than it needs to be, which is
likely why DW solutions are so expensive.

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005 18:59:01 -0500, "Rich Gauszka" <gauszka@hotmail.com> wrote
in message <41e70b3b@w3.nls.net>:

>$170 million to develop obsolete software with security flaws?
>
>http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/01/13/terror/main666644.shtml
>
>(CBS/AP) A $170 million computer overhaul intended to give FBI agents and
>analysts an instantaneous and paperless way to manage criminal and terrorism
>cases is headed back to the drawing board, probably at a much steeper cost
>to taxpayers.
>
>CBS News Correspondent Bob Orr reports the system, labeled Virtual Case File
>is still not ready, but it's already obsolete.
>
>Orr reports an Inspector General's report about to be released says the
>centerpiece of the FBI's half billion dollar technological overhaul is a
>bust.
>
>The system, labelled the "Virtual Case File," is still not ready -- but
>already obsolete. One official calls it 2001 software ... with "a number of
>deficiencies" and security flaws.
>
>As envisioned, Virtual Case File would have allowed agents throughout the
>country to have instant access to extensive background on suspects: history,
>contacts, fingerprints, travel patterns. And all of it would be constantly
>updated in real time.
>
>Agents would be able to search for trends and common threads.
>
>For example, had a Virtual Case File existed before 9/11, agents in
>Minnesota tracking Zacarious Moussaoui's bizarre flight lessons may have
>known about an agent's warning in Arizona that terrorists might be training
>at U.S. flight schools.
>
>But the information was not shared before the attack.
>
>The FBI is hoping to salvage some parts of the project. But officials
>acknowledged Thursday that it is possible the entire system, designed by
>Science Applications International Corp. of San Diego, is so inadequate and
>outdated that a new one will have to be built from scratch.
>
>The FBI did not get what was envisioned, said a senior FBI official, who
>briefed reporters on condition of anonymity because the project is the
>subject of an internal Justice Department review. The official said its
>capabilities were only about 10 percent of what was sought.
>
>It is not clear how much more money will have to be spent. The official said
>the FBI probably will have to ask Congress for additional funds. Some of the
>necessary software is probably now commercially available, which was not the
>case when the project began.
>
>Virtual Case File was to have been the final piece of the FBI's $581 million
>overhaul of its computer system. The first two phases of the project -
>deployment of a high-speed, secure FBI computer network and 30,000 new
>desktop computers - have been completed.
>
>SAIC spokesman Jared Adams said the company "delivered the Virtual Case File
>system initial operation capability in December as agreed to" and would have
>no further comment until the Justice Department review is finished.
>
>FBI officials said that although all essential national security information
>is available under the current system, it is more cumbersome than it should
>be.
>
>The main database, known as the Investigative Data Warehouse, can be
>accessed by about 6,000 FBI officials as well as others on the bureau's
>joint terrorism task forces around the country.
>
>Reasons for the problems include weak management of the project contract,
>numerous hurdles in figuring out how to share often-secret information with
>other agencies and the difficulty of making such major changes without
>requiring the FBI to suspend operations, at least for short periods.
>
>The FBI will make a final decision on the Virtual Case File provided by SAIC
>after a limited test of the system in the New Orleans FBI office and
>completion of a $2 million independent evaluation by computer experts at
>Aerospace Corp., whose primary government customer is NASA
>

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