Information as a Weapon: Microsoft Code-Name FusionX

Microsoft is stepping up its anti-terrorism game with the introduction of a new project codenamed FusionX in collaboration with the Illinois State Police. FusionX is essentially positioned as an intelligence fusion center architecture, addressed at the law-enforcement agencies in the United States. The first-generation center has been showcased to local, federal and state law enforcement representatives, with Microsoft stressing the relevance of information as a weapon against terrorism. FusionX acts as both a technology platform and architecture that will streamline centralization and access to critical intelligence.

"The Illinois State Police is a recognized leader in the rapidly evolving fusion center concept. They demonstrate daily that our society's safety is their top priority. Citizens should have an expectation that their governments will consistently use technology to make their communities safer," explained Linda Zecher, vice president of the U.S. Public Sector Group at Microsoft.

As the U.S. are faced with increasing pressure from the threat of terrorism, Microsoft together with the Illinois State Police have spent an entire year, developing a model and the underlying infrastructure necessary to act as catalysts information sharing. FusionX will be implemented as a fusion center designed to prevent and facilitate immediate response in specific scenarios involving terrorism activity. The Microsoft Homeland Security and Public Safety Technology Symposium, in Redmond, between the 4th and 6th of December, were the stage where FusionX has been unveiled. But in the end, FusionX is merely a proof of concept, and Microsoft still has quite a long way to go before implementing the final service.

"Our nation requires effective information sharing and collaborative tools to accomplish the broad sweep of the homeland security mission - whether it is prevention, preparation or response. This work can serve as a model and the foundation of a truly national information-sharing environment," added Joe Rozek, executive director of Homeland Security and Intelligence at Microsoft.