Mamram ( he, ממר"ם), abbreviation for Center of Computing and Information Systems ( he, מרכז מחשבים ומערכות מידע ''Merkaz Mahshevim UMa'arahot Meida''), originally Center of Computing and Mechanized Registration ( he, מרכז מחשבים ורישום ממוכן ''Merkaz Mahshevim VeRishum Memukhan'') is the Israel Defense Forces' central computing system unit, providing data processing services for all arms and the general staff of the IDF.

History

Formed in 1959, the unit acquired its first computer, a US-made

Philco Philco (an acronym for Philadelphia Battery Company) is an American electronics manufacturer headquartered in Philadelphia. Philco was a pioneer in battery, radio, and television production. In 1961, the company was purchased by Ford and, from 196 ...

Model 211 installed in 1961. Prior to this, the IDF made occasional use of the

Weizmann Institute The Weizmann Institute of Science ( he, מכון ויצמן למדע ''Machon Vaitzman LeMada'') is a public research university in Rehovot, Israel, established in 1934, 14 years before the State of Israel. It differs from other Israeli un ...

WEIZAC WEIZAC (''Weizmann Automatic Computer'') was the first computer in Israel, and one of the first large-scale, stored-program, electronic computers in the world. It was built at the Weizmann Institute during 1954–1955, based on the Institute for ...

, the first electronic computer in the Middle East. Mordechai Kikayon, a civilian, was transferred from RAFAEL (then part of the IDF) to be the Mamram's first commander. Mamram facilities soon started hosting several other independent data processing units, including the Inventory Processing Center (מענ"א) and the Manpower Computing Center (ממכ"א), and additional computers were obtained. In 1994, the Mamram programming school, considered one of the best sources of high-quality software professionals in the world, was separated into a newly formed unit called School for Computer Professions ( he, בית הספר למקצועות המחשב, abbr. Basmach - בסמ"ח). However, the school's graduates, who were and still are highly sought after in the industry, are still referred to as Mamram graduates. Following graduation, Basmach students go on to serve in various IDF units. Some of the graduates are often offered a position in Mamram itself. The unit has also been delegated with the responsibility of assigning Internet

domain names A domain name is a string that identifies a realm of administrative autonomy, authority or control within the Internet. Domain names are often used to identify services provided through the Internet, such as websites, email services and more. As ...

under the idf.il second level domain. On September 20th, 2017 the color of the unit's beret was changed to cyber blue to reflect the emerging responsibility for Israel's cyber defense.
News article updating on the change of the beret color

Former commanders

*2020– : Colonel Yael Grossman *2018–2020: Colonel Omer Grossman *2015–2018: Colonel Talia Gazit *2013–2015: Colonel *2010–2013: Colonel Noam Rozenfeld *2006–2010: Colonel Ayala Hakim *2002–2006: Colonel Avi Kochva *1999–2002: Colonel Zvi Gliechman *1994–1999: Colonel Miri Kadmiel *1992–1994: Brig. Gen. Giora Ulman *1987–1992: Colonel *1984–1987: Colonel *1982-1984: Col. Avi Peri *1981-9182: Col. Sarya Ziv *1979-1981:Col Yeosef Shiftan *1978-1979: Col. Moshe Nadir *1973-1978: *1967-1973: Menachem Dishon *1959–1967: Mordechai Kikayon, the first head of Mamram

Areas of responsibility

Closed intranet

Mamram has created the military's closed Intranet network. This network is a replication of the

WWW The World Wide Web (WWW), commonly known as the Web, is an information system enabling documents and other web resources to be accessed over the Internet. Documents and downloadable media are made available to the network through web se ...

, only in smaller dimensions for the use of all IDF's soldiers.

IDF's system network

MAMRAM is responsible for the management and development of the IDF's computer and network systems.

Fight against computer abuse

Mamram is responsible for enforcing computer use integrity. The ability to monitor network vandalism and abuse is an outcome of Mamram's own technical development.

WWW integration

Mamram provides IDF's WWW websites. Those websites contain interactive information used by civilians and foreigners.

References

{{reflist

External links

A Case Study of the Israeli Military's Impact on the Software Industry
Military units and formations of Israel Military units and formations established in 1959 1959 establishments in Israel