United Nations International Computing Centre

The United Nations International Computing Centre, commonly known as UNICC, is an inter-organizational technology services centre established to provide shared computing and information technology capabilities to the United Nations system. It was created in 1971 through a Memorandum of Agreement among the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Health Organization, following United Nations General Assembly resolution 2741 (XXV). Its original purpose was to provide electronic data-processing services for the sponsoring organizations and other eligible users. UNICC operates as a shared-service organization rather than as a conventional commercial technology vendor. Its role is to help United Nations programmes, funds, specialized agencies, and related not-for-profit organizations access common infrastructure, systems, expertise, and operational capabilities. By consolidating technology services and encouraging reuse across participating organizations, UNICC seeks to reduce duplication, improve interoperability, strengthen resilience, and generate economies of scale for its clients. Its service portfolio spans consulting, application development, enterprise platforms, cloud and hosting services, cybersecurity, digital identity, data and analytics, infrastructure management, connectivity, business continuity, and disaster recovery. Advisory work includes strategic technology advice, subject-matter expertise, project management, learning, digital business communications, robotic process automation, and electronic signature services. The centre also supports cloud and enterprise software environments, including managed services associated with Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, ServiceNow, and web hosting. Security is a significant part of UNICC’s mandate because its clients handle sensitive operational, humanitarian, development, personnel, and administrative information. Its security-related capabilities include governance and support for chief information security officers, threat intelligence, security operations, security information and event management, phishing and vulnerability management, penetration testing, incident response, digital forensics, security awareness, public-key infrastructure, and digital identity services. UNICC additionally provides enterprise computing platforms, business applications, database and analytics services, servers, storage, backup, network services, internet connectivity, and data-centre support. These capabilities allow client organizations to run and modernize application suites while sharing technical resources and operational knowledge. The centre is headquartered in Geneva and has offices or operational locations in New York City, Brindisi, Rome, Valencia, and Hanoi. Reference material describes a workforce of more than 800 staff. UNICC has also participated in digital transformation and information-security initiatives across the United Nations system, including the UN Digital Academy, common security services, and the UN Digital ID project. It is therefore best understood as a shared digital backbone and specialist technology partner for international organizations, not as a consumer-facing brand.

UNICC was established in 1971 after United Nations General Assembly resolution 2741 (XXV) supported the creation of a shared electronic data-processing facility for organizations within the United Nations system. A Memorandum of Agreement among the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme, and the World Health Organization formalized the centre. Its initial function was practical and infrastructure-oriented: provide computing and data-processing capacity that participating organizations could use collectively rather than building entirely separate systems. Over time, the centre’s remit expanded with the changing role of information technology in international administration and programme delivery. The organization moved beyond basic data processing into enterprise applications, systems integration, communications, hosting, infrastructure, and technical advisory services. Its shared-service model allowed United Nations entities and other eligible international or not-for-profit organizations to draw on common skills and platforms while maintaining their own institutional mandates. As enterprise technology became increasingly dependent on networked systems and externally hosted platforms, UNICC developed capabilities in cloud management, application hosting, Microsoft enterprise environments, Amazon Web Services management, web platforms, and service-management tools. It also built or supported enterprise resource planning, web applications, SharePoint environments, business intelligence, databases, and analytics. These services helped clients operate common or connected digital environments while addressing the specialized governance and continuity requirements of international organizations. Cybersecurity became a central part of the centre’s activities. UNICC’s security portfolio includes strategic governance, chief information security officer support, threat intelligence, security operations, monitoring, vulnerability and phishing management, penetration testing, incident response, forensics, awareness programmes, public-key infrastructure, and digital identity. The centre’s common security services have received external recognition, including CSO50 Awards in 2017 and 2020. UNICC has also participated in United Nations digital transformation initiatives. Its work has included operational support for the UN Digital ID project and involvement with the UN Digital Academy in collaboration with Microsoft. These initiatives reflect the centre’s broader role as a technology enabler for organizations that need secure identity, learning, collaboration, communications, and shared digital infrastructure. The organization is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and maintains offices or operational locations in New York City, Brindisi, Rome, Valencia, and Hanoi. Reference material describes a workforce of more than 800 staff. Its present scope includes consulting, application and platform services, security, data and analytics, infrastructure, networking, connectivity, backup, business continuity, and disaster recovery. UNICC’s continuing institutional purpose is to maximize the sharing of infrastructure, systems, and skills across the United Nations family and associated organizations while delivering reliable and secure technology services.

• 2020

  Security and digital innovation initiatives recognized

  [2]United Nations International Computing Centre official websiteunicc.org

  UNICC’s common security services received another CSO50 Award, while the UN Digital Academy and UN Digital ID initiatives received recognition in international innovation programmes.

• 2017

  Common security services receive CSO50 recognition

  [2]United Nations International Computing Centre official websiteunicc.org

  UNICC’s common secure information-security services received a CSO50 Award.

• 1971

  Establishment of the International Computing Centre

  [1]United Nations International Computing Centreen.wikipedia.org

  UNICC was established through a Memorandum of Agreement among the United Nations, UNDP, and WHO, following United Nations General Assembly resolution 2741 (XXV), to provide shared electronic data-processing services.

A shared-service technology centre for the United Nations family and related international organizations, positioned around secure, interoperable, resilient, and cost-efficient digital infrastructure and expertise.

• Technology consulting and advisory

  UNICC Consulting

  Consulting services cover strategic technology advice, specialist subject-matter expertise, learning, digital business communications, project management, application development, monitoring, robotic process automation, electronic signatures, and secure authentication. The offering is designed for organizations that need both advisory capacity and practical delivery support within complex international and institutional environments.

• Cloud computing and application hosting

  Cloud and enterprise platform management

  UNICC manages hosted and cloud-based software environments for participating organizations. The portfolio includes Amazon Web Services management, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Dynamics 365, ServiceNow support, cloud web hosting, and application delivery. These services provide managed operational capacity while supporting standardization, scalability, and controlled access to enterprise platforms.

• Cybersecurity

  Information security services

  The security portfolio combines governance and advisory functions with operational capabilities. It includes CISO support, threat intelligence, a security operations centre, security information and event management, phishing and vulnerability management, penetration testing, incident response, forensics, information-security awareness, public-key infrastructure, and digital identity services.

• Enterprise software and analytics

  Enterprise applications and data services

  UNICC provides platforms and support for enterprise resource planning, enterprise web applications, hosting and traffic analysis, SharePoint, business intelligence, databases, visualization, advanced analytics, data management, and related consulting. These capabilities help United Nations entities operate administrative and programme systems and extract value from institutional data.

• IT infrastructure and connectivity

  Infrastructure and continuity services

  Infrastructure services include business-continuity and disaster-recovery planning, server support, storage on demand, enterprise backup, data-centre consolidation, network services, internet connectivity, and the OneICTBox offering. The services are intended to support resilient operations across geographically distributed international organizations.

• 2020UN Digital Academy

  United Nations system

  UNICC collaborated with Microsoft on the UN Digital Academy, an initiative focused on strengthening digital capabilities across the United Nations system.

  Outcome. The initiative won the 2020 ITU Innovation Challenge.

  Source
• 2020UN Digital ID

  United Nations system

  UNICC provided operational support for the UN Digital ID project developed through the UN Digital Solutions Centre.

  Outcome. The project won the 2020 Reimagine the UN Together Challenge.

  Source

1. 1United Nations International Computing Centreen.wikipedia.org
2. 2United Nations International Computing Centre official websiteunicc.org