Computer giant and SPSS owner IBM has agreed to acquire National Interest Security Company (NISC), a privately-held company offering advanced analytics and IT solutions to the public sector.

NISC, which is based in Fairfax, Virginia, will be integrated into IBM’s growing Global Business Services consulting unit on completion of the deal, which is expected in the first quarter of 2010. The buy includes NISC affiliate Technology and Management Services, Inc. and is subject to customary closing conditions. Financial details were not disclosed.

IBM says the move will expand its capabilities with federal, state and local government entities, particularly in the fast-growing areas of defense, healthcare, energy, logistics and security, enhancing its recently launched Business Analytics and Optimization (BAO) Services for Public Sector, which uses advanced analytics to deliver predictive intelligence and aid decision-making.

NISC’s expertise covers IT skills from systems engineering and integration to software development and security; as well as biometrics, information assurance and analysis support.

Chuck Prow, Managing Partner, Public Sector, IBM Global Business Services, comments: ‘IBM’s analytic and innovation prowess, combined with NISC’s industry knowledge and depth of experience in defense, healthcare, energy, and infrastructure management services, will allow us to deliver an unprecedented level of service and support to our growing list of government clients.’

Thomas J. Campbell, chairman of NISC says the deal is ‘a strong fit’ with NISC’s original primary objectives: ‘to provide our customers with the highest quality, effective solutions and to provide our employees with the opportunity to do meaningful work with multiple paths for professional development.’
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In its effort to bring down cost and boost efficiency, Del Monte Philippines, Inc., has tapped IBM’s technology expertise via smart IT and Data Center outsourcing solutions.

The company’s shift allows it to focus on a more strategic IT roadmap aimed at supporting a five-year revenue projection while addressing the growing costs of managing and supporting IT operations.

Likewise, the move to IBM, addresses the business demands of greater availability and higher service performance as Del Monte is now able to swing their capital expenditure (capex) to purely operational expenditure (opex) with their SAP migration infrastructure particularly on the infrastructure.

The two contracts worth approximately US$3.1 million covering a five-year period were signed in 2009.

The first is a total IT infrastructure services outsourcing contract. Under the Service Level Agreement, IBM provides management for the food giant’s Data Center, Servers/Storage, Network, DMS, Helpdesk, IT Asset & Vendor Management.

The second contract covers management of an outsourced SAP Infrastructure ( servers, storage, Data Center facility & Disaster Recovery site) for Del Monte’s migration to SAP ECC 6.0 while maintaining the asset ownership of the said Infrastructure.

Del Monte’s Cesar Canlas, chief information officer (CIO) said IBM liberated funding for direct savings and increased the company’s IT efficiency in its day-to-day operations. The company’s productivity and business growth are expected to be enhanced.

“Our clients recognize that in today’s business environment, technology is the differentiator which can provide a valuable competitive edge,” said James Velasquez, Country General Manager, IBM Philippines.
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