Australian Govlink Issue 2, 2013 | Page 46

42 RETHINKING AIRPORT IT Leveraging the cloud Intersystems, a specialist provider of integrated information systems for the airport industry, took up the challenge of providing its industry-leading software in the cloud, specifically for the regional airport market, and has launched Rapid in the Cloud. The goal was to make its world-class applications available to smaller, regional airports in a way that reduced the barriers to accessing IT systems traditionally seen by the regional airport market whilst not compromising on the product’s offering. Running an airport is challenging at the best of times; running a regional airport, doubly so. Regional airports face the same challenges as their larger counterparts: maintaining infrastructure, providing reliable and secure operations, catering to increasing passenger requirements such as access to retail and concessionaire facilities, all on a budget a fraction of the size of their major counterparts. It’s no wonder as many as half of Australia’s regional airports may be operating at a loss each year. The age of cloud is upon us and access to resources in the cloud, at a fraction of the cost (or even free) is revolutionising everything from data storage (Dropbox) to email (Gmail) to television (Catch-Up TV). Airports accessing their Flight Information Display System (FIDS), advertising platforms and resource management systems in the cloud is a logical step forward. Whilst it took a couple of years to get right, Intersystems hasn’t skimped on its cloud offering. It’s a simple to setup, scalable solution that has been designed to mimic the needs of regional airports. Simple By leveraging the cloud, Intersystems is able to substantially reduce the upfront hardware and implementation costs that smaller airports see with traditional IT system setups, by handling all the complex system and hardware configuration so you don’t have to worry. The airport is responsible for providing a high-speed internet connection and installing the pre-configured display equipment Intersystems ships to site – that’s it. Manageable Rapid in the Cloud removes the longerterm requirements of managing and administering an IT system. There’s no servers to administ \?[?XZ[?Z[????\]Z\?[Y[???????[???\?[????\??\?H\?Y\??[???8?$?]8?&\?[???\?Y ????[??\??YH ? ? L???\?Y?[?\??\?[\??X\?[?Y\?HNK?NIH\[YB????\Y[?H??Y?\?[\?]?ZY ?[?x?&[[???[?Y?]???H]?[?? ? ???[?B?X??\???[?\??\?[\??&H??[?\??[??\??Y[? ??]??X?\?\??[?H?? ?[?\??\?[\??&H?\?X[H?]?\??Y\?[?\?[?^\?\?H??XX?H?Z[? ??X??\??X?B??]?X?X??\????\Y[?H??Y ]8?&\?X??\??X?H[?]?\?K[?][YH???H[[???[?H]?X?K???H\?HH^\???Z[???X??[?[???X?K??\Y[?H??Y8?&\??]^?\??\YX[???\?][?[?Y???[??X[?Y?H?Q??[H?H?????[X?B?HX[H][?\??\?[\?\??]\?\Y?[?H??Y??H L H??[X?K?^x?&]?B?XYHH???\???Y[???]?\?^B??\X?]H8?&Y?[?^x?&K??KX???Y?\?Y?\??\?H\??\Y?[?H?XYH???[??[][?[?X?]?][???Y???X?B?Y?H?X]\?H\?H?\?H]?X?]?B??\?[???X?N???YK[?^x?&]?H???\??][?[????\???????Y\?H[?\]YH[?[]?[???Z\???X??\????\Y[?B???Y\X?][???HY?\?\?[???]?[?YH?\?[??[?[ ?]8?&\??]\?B??\?KX?KX?\?H?\?\?[??[??H??YB??]?HX[H][?\??\?[\???\Y[?H??Y\??X?Y?\?Y???\?[H\?Y?K??Y?[?x?&\?HH?X[Z\????]????[YK[?H??&]^H]X? ??\?[?\?Z\??[??X\?\?[??^?H[?Z\???Y??X??\Y[?H??Y?X[[\??B???[\??][?K?H?X?[??\??YX?X?K??Y?]X?H[??\??[ L B??[??\?[?8?$?\?H\?H??Y[???????]H??]???[??\??[?\???Y?\???[??\??[?X[[??[???Z[??B??^H?X[\???[?\?][????\?[?\???]8?&\???Y[??H?\??\??\?]^\????H?Y??^\?[?H?^H]XZ?\??[??B???H?X[\??\??][?X]?Y?X??\????\??\??\???]?H?\?][?[?Y??X?Y[??H[??[?\?]HH?]?[?YH??X[B???Z\????\Y[?H??Y\?\?B??[][\??[?]\???