Netsol bids for Pakistan Army Digitization Project

[Lankan Ranger]

Netsol bids for Pakistan Army Digitization Project

NetSol Technologies, Inc. "NetSol" (NASDAQ: NTWK) (NASDAQ DUBAI: NTWK), today announced that NetSol Defense Division (NDD), a business unit of NetSol Technologies, Inc., is teaming with a top 5 U.S. defense contractor to jointly respond to Pakistan Ministry of Defense request for proposals.

In line with this teaming agreement, NetSol has jointly submitted a bid for the digitization of the Pakistan military forces as well as an automated command and control system.The contract bid, which has been jointly developed and submitted, is estimated to be in excess of $350 million over an estimated five plus years.

ASIAN DEFENCE: Netsol bids for Pakistan C2, army digitization project

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

National Security project should not be handed out to US firms even with a Pakistani CEO , unless there is substantial oversight of the project

The firm will be working under US laws and there is no guarentee that CIA will not have its operative , setting up data collection methods in Pak Army Control and Command center.....

Ideally this operation should be 100% done with reliable partners like China or local Pakistani companies

This is exactly how , security loop holes and backdoors are created from where agents get into network or they listen to communication between high commands.

With current - world situation I would not favor a US firm doing such sensitive procedure ...

This will also enable Special Operation teams in US to know all the codes for Nucs and other sensitive data , what they need to enter to by pass security systems -

Even if the intentions of Netsol is great - can't be trusted high risk of espionage

That firm could be challenged in courts in US to hand over all DATA drives and othe serets to US CIA /home land security or what ever , at any given time , and that would be pretty silly for Pakistan to give the keys of its Command and control center to US firm - I mean we hear it regulary here US CIA went in confescated all company data/items fro suspicion of doing xyz

 

[ANG]

Hi, pardon my ignorance, but what does "digitization" mean in this particular context. Thanks!

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

Hi, pardon my ignorance, but what does "digitization" mean in this particular context. Thanks!

Digitization could mean ~

a) All military files /documents
b) Any communication signals that are sent out betwee systems
in high command
c) Security codes and guidelines used in buildings / access cards
d) Nuclear, codes highly encrypted codes
e) Wireless transmission of data between military personel
f) Office networks and compute access guidelines

The scope could be more... the only contract US companies should get is build water desalination projects in Pakistan or Nuclear plants for energy 2 projects - no projects for military

"More emphasis on digital media as oppose to old fashion paper/pencil" or analog signals un encrypted etc

Last thing you want is bugs in your command and control and nothing works thanks to upgrades...

 

[Sinnerman108]

National Security project should not be handed out to US firms even with a Pakistani CEO , unless there is substantial oversight of the project

The firm will be working under US laws and there is no guarentee that CIA will not have its operative , setting up data collection methods in Pak Army Control and Command center.....

Ideally this operation should be 100% done with reliable partners like China or local Pakistani companies

This is exactly how , security loop holes and backdoors are created from where agents get into network or they listen to communication between high commands.

With current - world situation I would not favor a US firm doing such sensitive procedure ...

This will also enable Special Operation teams in US to know all the codes for Nucs and other sensitive data , what they need to enter to by pass security systems -

Even if the intentions of Netsol is great - can't be trusted high risk of espionage

That firm could be challenged in courts in US to hand over all DATA drives and othe serets to US CIA /home land security or what ever , at any given time , and that would be pretty silly for Pakistan to give the keys of its Command and control center to US firm - I mean we hear it regulary here US CIA went in confescated all company data/items fro suspicion of doing xyz

Netsol is not as US company, it is a Pakistani Company
Based out of Lahore
It is first Pakistani IT company to be listed in Nasdaq.
It is also a pioneer in achieving CMMI L5 certification, first in Pakistan.

a) All military files /documents
b) Any communication signals that are sent out betwee systems
in high command
c) Security codes and guidelines used in buildings / access cards
d) Nuclear, codes highly encrypted codes
e) Wireless transmission of data between military personel
f) Office networks and compute access guidelines

Files and documents will be digitized, as in scanned and office movement is on
IT network,
This saves the file work and speeds up every thing with proper authentication
and tracking / logging.

points B,C,D,E are not covered and are never part of the digitization project.
Although they may offer 2 factor authentication etc... that is normal practice.

They may propose some thing in point F, however i doubt it has any impact on any security etc.

All said and done, i still believe that this project will hit the roof.
Nearly all Office automation / digitization projects have done so in past.
Whilst having said that, I also can tell you that Netsol has had a "close" relationship with the army, and not every project they get is by merit alone.

All in all, it is a good project, but this is not the time, and the army or any force for that matter is not qualified for this venture.

 

[ali hadi]

a very versatile project for pakistan army. indeed it will help the army to gear up on digital media as it is the need of the time. will save time and secure the setup as a whole.


do share sum info on OAS

 

[RescueRanger]

Thanks for pointing that out Salman, i remember using Netsol dial up cards before Yateem( i mean wateen) came into the DSL market.

 

[Dazzler]

Ever wonder what the real business of Dawlance is?

 

[Donatello]

Well, i am not too sure about this.

I mean giving them the information to digitize it? Better for the Army to create it's own cyber division and do it on it's own. 350 million is a lot of money.

 

[SQ8]

I saw the email for this at a colleagues desk back in isl.
Only mentioned files and links for the commands.

 

[shaka_shaka]

yes, CMMI level 5 is the highest quality assurance level any software firm can achieve but it does not matter.

CMMI level 5 means the software they produce will be reusable, extendable and highly maintainable.

netsol might be amongst the best in pakistan but if i were COAS or whoever has the decision, i would never give them the project

why?

it has been a tradition in pakistan army to keep their activites closed only to those who actually care and are serious about national security

trusting a private company with such software would be a disaster.

pakistan army should do this themselves.

 

[somebozo]

There is no need to get concerned all over it. The private company will only provide the infrastructure software which will then be code audited by army. The private contractors never get in touch with information to be hosted on these systems. This is the part of army. Such public-private defence partnerships can bring huge advantage in terms of cost, quality and technology.

 

[WAQAS119]

it has been a tradition in pakistan army to keep their activites closed only to those who actually care and are serious about national security

trusting a private company with such software would be a disaster.

pakistan army should do this themselves.

I guess, this company will design software for Pakistan Army based on dummy data for accounting purposes. And after few test on dummy data, all will be handled by Pakistan Army. This practice is common in many limited companies too where they also have huge data which they want ot keep it secret but still they go for digitalisation.
Obviously updation is required after some time but database can be kept secret.

 

[Sinnerman108]

I do not question the obligation to comment which people tend to have.
I question the tendency to pass verdict without knowing all the facts.

 

[mughaljee]

Some one said above,
Digitalized will save the time.
&
during this digital work , US will be able to check or placed some gagged of spying ?