◆ SpookStack

~ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The foundation of a centralized and effective counterterrorism operation 1s the capability to assemble, assimilate, and disseminate investigative and operational information both internally and with fellow intelligence and law enforcement agencies. This capability requires information technology (/T) that makes information easily accessible and usable by all personnel while protecting the security of that inforrnation. On September 11, 2001, the Bureau's information technology was inadequate to support its counterterrorism mission. In preceding years, substantial investments were made to upgrade technologies that directly supported investigations, such as surveillance equipment and forensic services like the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System. insufficient attention was paid, however, to technology related to the more fundamental tasks of records creation, maintenance, dissemination, and retrieval. In 2001, many employees still used vintage 1987 386 desktop computers. Some resident agencies could only access data in their field office wa a slow dral- up connection, Many Bureau programs were using computer systems that operated independently and did not interoperate with systems in other programs or other parts of the Bureau. We also had a deficient information management system. The FBI’s legacy investigative information system, the Autornated Case Support (ACS), was not very effective in identifying information or supporting investigations. Users navigated with the function keys instead of the “point and click” method common to web-based applications, Simple tasks, such as storing an electronic. version of a document, required a user to perform 12 separate functions ina "green screen" environment. Also, the system lacked multimedia functionality to allow for the storage of information in its original form. Agents could not store many forms of digital evidence in an electronic format, instead having to describe the evidence and indicate where the evidence was stored in a contral room Thanks to the character and resolve of its personnel, the FB! was able to achieve numerous investigative successes, in spite of these obstacles. It was clear as of September 11, 2001, however, that we needed an integrated IT infrastructure to manage our information. We brought on-board a highly skilled team of experts and set out to create an IT infrastructure that 1s fast and secure, and that ties together the applications and databases used throughout the Bureau. We also designed user-friendly, web-based software applications to reduce reliance on paper records and to streamline investigative workflow. These improvements are enhancing our ability to collect, store, search, analyze, and share information. Centralized Management The shortcomings of the FBI’s IT prior to September 11, 2001, were due in part to a lack of centralized management. Decisions related to IT were made at various levels and by various divisions throughout the Bureau with no overarching strategy or plan. To correct this problem and ensure that future decisions related to IT are consistent with a clear plan to meet sc DOC. #5 51 - 000000390