An international dialogue hosted by the IBM Center for The Business of Government in September 2021, looked at critical challenges facing homeland security and border control agencies in a post-pandemic world. The discussion was attended by CIOs and IT leaders with the Australia Department of Home Affairs, the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Customs and Border Protection. These three dynamic leaders engaged in an interactive dialogue, joined by nearly 50 attendees from across the globe.
Agencies are being tasked with transforming how they respond and operate in a highly digitalized environment while ensuring safety and prosperity of citizens and country.”
Critical challenges that agencies face include the increasing volume of incidents and emergencies, overly complex trade and immigration processes, and evolving threats to borders and customs. Governments can leverage data, AI, intelligent automation, and other emerging technologies to address these complex challenges—while also freeing up critical human resources for high-value missions.
Participants addressed supply chain assurance, opening borders amidst the global fight against COVID-19, and the role of data, AI, and other technologies to support border security. The wide-ranging discussion also touched on addressing the needs of the future, anticipating new threats, and developing response strategies. These strategies—which rest on hybrid, multi-cloud environments—include operational capabilities that can stand up “on-demand” to address rapidly shifting threats.
In his report, Emerging Technology for Response and Recovery: An International Dialogue, QUT’s Professor Kevin Desouza, has drawn on this discussion and provides his keen insights about leveraging technologies to improve operations and security across borders, A copy of the report can be downloaded here.
The report was also the topic of an interview, Government can use emerging tech to improve border security and operations, with Government Matters.tv (Tech Matters).
It is hoped that the report will enable government leaders
to draw on insights and lessons learned from across the world.
