Vanguard Magazine

Sponsored Content 30 APRIL/MAY 2021 www.vanguardcanada.com PERSPECTIVE Advances in computing power, security, sensors, AI and IoT are also transform- ing the day-to-day operations for military base personnel, remote home workers, and troops in deployed locations. En- abling servicemembers at the tactical edge to connect and share critical information across military services and NORAD, will further enhance situational awareness. It will improve survivability and the opera- tional efficacy of deployed platforms, for- mations and units. However, with cyber- security becoming a growing concern, it is imperative to create a secure and compli- ant foundation. This means modernizing legacy systems, enhancing cyber-resilience and defending the integrity of mission lo- gistics and critical infrastructure against advance threats. Digital transformation is not just about technology. It's also about people, pro- cess, governance, and culture. Success- ful digital transformation for the armed forces, intelligence agencies, and the de- fence industrial base means putting peo- ple at the center; culture is a key enabler of digital transformation and it takes a united effort across the defence ecosys- tem to get it right. For the past 40 years, Microsoft has worked with defence and intelligence agencies to deliver trusted and secure services. We have established confidence in national security by securing data and ensuring information security compliance. For more information on how Microsoft is fueling innovation in the military, please visit aka.ms/DefenceInCanada. cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI), that connects across all elements of the military in the land, air and sea, to space, cyber and information domains. At Microsoft we are committed to develop- ing solutions that enable our government stakeholders to capitalize on opportunities at the accelerated pace required to deliver better operational outcomes. The foun- dational element is cloud infrastructure, which facilitates fast and secure informa- tion sharing between joint force elements across all domains and with allies. With that level of interoperability, we can turn that raw data in to actionable insights at the speed of relevance for commanders. By leveraging the potential of technology and digital transformation, defence and intel- ligence agencies can optimize operations, be agile and make rapid data-driven deci- sions to enhance situational awareness and readiness. As digital transformation sweeps every corner of the government, there is tre- mendous opportunity for the military, and multi-national coalitions like NORAD, to optimize data to make faster, more precise decisions. In addition to upgrading aircraft so that every platform can connect, share and learn, Canada has the opportunity to leverage insights from across departments, for example Transport Canada's radar in- formation and material from the Depart- ment of Fisheries and Oceans. With this breadth of data, AI and machine learning can be applied to identify and quantify threats, make faster and better decisions, and take all necessary actions to defeat po- tential opponents. Modernizing Defence and Intelligence A dvances in technology and the accelerated digital trans- formation brought on by the changing threat land- scape of rising international players including non-state actors, the en- during competition with emerging pow- ers and the advent of threats in the cyber, information and space domains have ush- ered in a new 'digital age' in which data is considered of strategic importance and interoperability is critical. Defence and intelligence agencies have often been at the forefront of technology innovation – but now more than ever, success in the modern battlespace hinges on informa- tion dominance. This means turning data into insights so forces can make informed decisions at the time of need, and estab- lishing secure connectivity and joint in- teroperability, from headquarters to the tactical edge. This journey starts with developing an information infrastructure, rooted in BY DEREK DOBSON, DEFENCE AND FEDERAL PUBLIC SAFETY LEADER AT MICROSOFT

• Cover