Press Release - Ministry of Defence: The Defence Information
Infrastructure
4 July 2008
The Ministry of Defence programme to replace hundreds of different
IT systems with a single, secure, high quality computer
infrastructure is based on a sound rationale and convincing
business case. According to a National Audit Office report issued
today, the Defence Information Infrastructure Programme (DII) has
delivered important benefits, but has run into implementation
difficulties, and key elements are running significantly
late.
When planning the system, the MoD did considerable work to
understand and mitigate risk, by learning from other large computer
projects, and devised robust commercial, governance and
decision-making structures. The Programme has delivered a number of
improvements to the existing IT systems within the MoD, such as
improved user support and reliability.
Where DII has been introduced, it has generally been available when
it should be. The Programme has also helped the Department develop
and install at short notice two systems supporting frontline troops
on operations in Afghanistan. But, throughout 2005 and early 2006,
problems emerged with two key elements of the Programme: the
rollout of hardware and the creation of software. 62,800 computer
terminals were due to be in place at permanent defence sites by the
end of July 2007. At the end of April 2008, only 29,000 had been
delivered. The completion date for the installation of the first
increment of the Programme is 18 months late.
The original method of rolling out the Programme’s infrastructure
and terminals proved to be inappropriate and unresponsive to the
variable state of defence sites. A new implementation method has
been more successful. The MoD’s requirement for core software has
remained largely unchanged since the contract was let, but the
Programme has experienced difficulties in delivering elements of
it, though changes have now been made to address the
problems.
The MoD has, to a large extent, protected its financial position;
forecast costs for the Programme approved in March 2005 have
increased by £182 million (some 3 per cent). Any additional growth
in costs may limit the MoD's ability to meet its remaining
requirements.
Tim Burr, head of the National Audit Office, said
today:
“It was always going to be a demanding task for the Ministry of
Defence to replace its diverse information technology with a
single, high quality system. The MoD started with a clear vision of
what it wanted to achieve and acted to address known risks. But the
Programme has run into difficulties and further concerted action
will be needed to increase the rate of roll out of terminals and to
deliver the remaining software.”
Notes for Editors
- The Ministry of Defence requires secure, high quality
information technology as an essential element for the success of
operations and to conduct its day-to-day business. In 2000, the
Department began to develop plans to replace many diverse systems
with a single infrastructure to enable better communication, to
promote more efficient ways of working and to obtain better value
for money. In March 2005, the Department let a contract to the
ATLAS consortium for the installation and management over 10 years
of a new infrastructure, known as the Defence Information
Infrastructure Programme.
- The Programme will eventually incorporate 150,000 terminals for
300,000 users at over 2,000 defence sites, including on ships and
deployed operations. The parts of the Programme which the
Department has on contract, including payments to ATLAS, are
estimated to cost £4.9 billion. A further £1.2 billion is estimated
as the cost of delivering related IT programmes on which the
Defence Information Infrastructure Programme depends, resulting in
a cost to the Department of £6.1 billion. The cost of meeting the
full vision, including work yet to be contracted, is currently
estimated to be £7.1 billion. (For details of the scope of the
Defence Information Infrastructure Programme, see Appendix 3 of the
NAO report.)
- Press notices and reports are available from the date of
publication on the NAO website, which is at www.nao.org.uk. Hard
copies can be obtained from The Stationery Office on 0845 702
3474.
- The Comptroller and Auditor General, Tim Burr, is the head of
the National Audit Office which employs some 850 staff. He and the
NAO are totally independent of Government. He certifies the
accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other
public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to
Parliament on the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which
departments and other bodies have used their resources.
Press Notice 32/08
All enquiries to Phil Groves, NAO Press Office: Tel: 020 7798
5339
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