State Department Plans to Deliver Open-Source Intelligence to Diplomats’ Mobile Devices

The Department of State’s Bureau of Intelligence and Research is planning to develop applications that will allow U.S. diplomats to access unclassified, open-source intelligence using their mobile devices, including publications related to foreign governments and blog posts of senior public officials in other countries.

The INR has existing partnerships with national security companies to identify mobile capabilities for open-source intelligence, with plans to deliver them within 24 months, The Cyber Edge reported.

According to Brett Holmgren, the assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research, the department sees mobile capabilities as necessary tools to expand access to open-source products that can help agency personnel better understand the policies and activities of various countries, including U.S. adversaries.

The bureau also plans to improve the delivery of classified information to U.S. embassies for their safety by enhancing the capabilities of the top secret/sensitive compartmented information network using ServiceNow’s cloud-based software-as-a-service solutions.

ServiceNow has deployed its SaaS solutions on the agency’s unclassified systems in support of cloud migration efforts. Holmgren said transitioning to the cloud is the first step to implementing mobile capabilities.