Defense Information Systems Agency
Encyclopedia
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) is a United States Department of Defense
agency that provides information technology (IT) and communications support to the President
, Vice President
, Secretary of Defense, the military Services, and the Combatant Commands.
As part of the Base Realignment and Closure
, DISA is planning to move from Arlington, Virginia to Fort Meade, Maryland
by September 2011.
In September 1992, several Defense Management Report Decisions (DMRD) expanded DISA's role. DMRD 918 created the Defense Information Infrastructure (DII), now known as the Global Information Grid
. At the same the Defense Information Systems Network was created to consolidate 122 DoD networks.
- Joint (GCCS-J), and Multinational Information Sharing (MNIS).
products and services for the military. In a recent fiscal year, DISA administered 84,083 contracts — valued at approximately 6.8 billion US dollars.
The Global Information Grid
("the GIG") is a term used for some projects.
DISA establishes the technological standards that make the GIG secure and reliable.
s facilitate this process.
, and facilitate the sharing of that information in a single joint environment.
, Combatant Commanders, Secretaries of Military Departments, and Directors of Defense Agencies.
(DoD calls these "long-haul") requirements into effective voice, video, and data network solutions; leverages proven and emerging technologies to ensure joint interoperability, assured security, and best value; evaluates technical operation and user mission effectiveness; and resolves technical support issues for DoD's long-haul networks.
, Navy
, and Air Force
.
In the 1960s, DCA moved to Arlington, Virginia, and took on several major organizations. The Air Force Office of Commercial Communications Management (now the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization), the White House
Signal Agency (now the White House Communications Agency), and the DoD Damage Assessment Center (now the Joint Staff Support Center) all became a part of DCA. DCA also established six regional communications control centers and two area centers for operational control of the DCS.
In the 1970s, DCA subsumed the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network and the Military Satellite Communications Systems Office. It also became responsible for engineering and operating the Worldwide Military Command and Control System. In the 1980s, DCA absorbed the Joint Tactical Command, Control, and Communications Agency, improving its ability to manage and enhance the interoperability of command, control, and communications systems. The Joint Interoperability Test Command was formed within DCA to provide interoperability compliance testing and certification.
The directors of the Defense Communications Agency were:
(GIG). DISA consolidated several (148) information processing centers, then operated by the Service Components and Defense Agencies, into 16 Defense megacenters and, within a few years, consolidated them further into five mainframe-processing centers known as Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECC) operated by DISA. The Joint Spectrum Center and the Defense Technical Information Center
also became part of DISA. Employment peaks at more than 12,000 military and civilian members.
With the onset of the Global War on Terror and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, DISA has been at the heart of providing the telecommunications and information systems that enable 21st century joint warfighting. The build up for Iraqi Freedom is the largest implementation of telecommunications and information technology in the history of warfare.
DISA, today, is in the forefront of the development of net-centric enterprise services, which will enable information sharing by connecting people and systems that have information with those who need information; development of net-enabled command capabilities, which will revolutionize command and control supporting joint warfighting; providing network services; and providing computing services that support more than 8 million users of more than 1,400 applications, using more than 1.7 petabytes of storage. DISA’s Computing Services is the number-one provider of Defense personnel, payroll, logistics, accounting, and medical records processing.
DISA has been awarded five Joint Meritorious Unit Award
s (similar to the Oscar Awards in which someone has to win) and continues to offer DoD information systems
support, taking data services to the forward-deployed warfighter.
DISA's mission, responsibilities, functions, relationships, and authorities, under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration/DoD Chief Information Officer (ASD (NII)/DoD CIO) are outlined in DoDD 5105.19, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), 25 July 2006.
The directors of the Defense Information Systems Agency have been:
(Secret [formerly Secure] Internet Protocol Router Network) is a system of interconnected computer networks used by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information
(up to and including information classified SECRET
) by packet switching
over the TCP/IP protocol
s in a "completely secure" environment. It also provides services such as hypertext
documents and electronic mail. In other words, the SIPRNET is the DoD’s classified version of the civilian Internet
together with its counterpart, the Top Secret
and SCI Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, JWICS.
(Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network) (formerly called the Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network) is used to exchange unclassified but sensitive information between "internal" users as well as providing military personnel access to the Internet
, although certain social networking websites such as YouTube
, Facebook
, Myspace
, Twitter
, and some Google Apps
remained restricted by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This restriction on the use of NIPRNET for social networking services (SNS) was lifted in February 2010, in a DoD Directive-Type Memorandum that outlined the Department's new stance on SNS "the NIPERNET shall be configured to provide access to all Internet-based capabilities (including SNS) across all DoD Components" http://www.defense.gov/NEWS/DTM%2009-026.pdf. NIPRNET is composed of Internet protocol routers owned by the U.S. Department of Defense. It was created by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to supersede the earlier MILNET
.
(GIG-BE) program created a “bandwidth-available” environment to improve national security intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, information assurance, as well as command and control. Through GIG-BE, DISA leveraged DOD’s existing end-to-end information transport capabilities, significantly expanding capacity and reliability to select Joint Staff
-approved locations worldwide. GIG-BE achieved full operational capacity on December 20 , 2005.
A user-self service provisioning portal allows DoD users to provision LAMP
or Windows
servers within its secured computing environment within 24 hours. This is a private cloud, and one of the first forays into cloud computing
by the United States federal government.
.net.
Forge.mil is a DISA-led activity designed to improve the ability of the U.S. Department of Defense to rapidly deliver dependable software, services and systems in support of net-centric operations and warfare. Forge.mil will:
The Forge.mil family of services today consists of three offerings - SoftwareForge, ProjectForge and Forge.mil Community. SoftwareForge is a free service available on both the NIPRNet and SIPRNet.
ProjectForge is a fee for service capability currently available for unclassified use.
Forge.mil Community is a collaborative content and knowledge management site for Forge.mil users to connect and share information using social collaboration tools such as group blogs, discussions, wiki, documents and polls. While the project teams on SoftwareForge and ProjectForge are focused on their individual project or projects, the Forge.mil Community site provides teams/individuals working to solve similar problems and/or discuss similar challenges that transcend a single project or set of projects a means to self organize around these challenges to develop common solutions.
The Forge.mil Community site provides a 'social' collaboration layer to augment and integrate with the current capabilities in Forge.mil. Group associations with a project or a set of projects provides a more holistic view of software development activity and allows project teams and individuals to better connect, collaborate, share information and expand the discussions within a wider audience.
Forge.mil Community also provides a forum for teams, and individuals who are not necessarily working on the development of software but who have knowledge and experience to contribute and share with a wider community. Forge.mil Community allows for the formation of groups built around communities of interest, organizations, mission areas, or specific technologies as well as groups created around topics of interest to the Information Technology Acquisition Community such as Section 804 Compliance, general CAC/PKI information, Software Development Best Practices to include Agile, and contract strategies for the use of Forge.mil and Agile.
at Randolph Air Force Base
confirmed that DISA will host the Air Force instantiation of the RightNow Technologies
' Commercial off-the-shelf
personnel customer service and self-service applications at its Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECC). RightNow will maintain the software applications in a similar fashion to its privately hosted Software as a service
(SaaS) offerings.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
agency that provides information technology (IT) and communications support to the President
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
, Vice President
Vice President of the United States
The Vice President of the United States is the holder of a public office created by the United States Constitution. The Vice President, together with the President of the United States, is indirectly elected by the people, through the Electoral College, to a four-year term...
, Secretary of Defense, the military Services, and the Combatant Commands.
As part of the Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
, DISA is planning to move from Arlington, Virginia to Fort Meade, Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
by September 2011.
In September 1992, several Defense Management Report Decisions (DMRD) expanded DISA's role. DMRD 918 created the Defense Information Infrastructure (DII), now known as the Global Information Grid
Global Information Grid
The Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
. At the same the Defense Information Systems Network was created to consolidate 122 DoD networks.
Mission
DISA, a Combat Support Agency, engineers and provides command and control capabilities and enterprise infrastructure to continuously operate and assure a global net-centric enterprise in direct support to joint warfighters, National level leaders, and other mission and coalition partners across the full spectrum of operations.Command and control
DISA's Command and Control acronyms include the Net-Enabled Command Capability (NECC), Global Combat Support System (GCSS), Combatant Command/Joint Task Force (CC/JTF), Global Command and Control SystemGlobal Command and Control System
Global Command and Control System is a collection of SOA systems and applications which was developed to replace the Worldwide Military Command and Control System...
- Joint (GCCS-J), and Multinational Information Sharing (MNIS).
Computing/application hosting
DISA delivers hosting and information processing services from 13 computing centers.Contracting and procurement
DISA purchases telecommunications and information technologyInformation technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
products and services for the military. In a recent fiscal year, DISA administered 84,083 contracts — valued at approximately 6.8 billion US dollars.
Global information grid engineering
DISA plans, designs, constructs, and analyzes the effectiveness of the U.S. military's cyberspace.The Global Information Grid
Global Information Grid
The Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
("the GIG") is a term used for some projects.
DISA establishes the technological standards that make the GIG secure and reliable.
Information assurance
To promote safe information sharing, DISA makes data ubiquitously accessible while restricting access, promotes the safe sharing of information, prevents attacks by having network protections in place and detects, diagnoses, and reacts to attacks. At the unit level, Information Assurance Security OfficerInformation Assurance Security Officer
An Information Assurance Security Officer in the United States Army is primarily responsible for the security and integrity of the information systems in his or her area of responsibility.- References :* * Information Assurance Vulnerability Alert...
s facilitate this process.
Multinational information sharing
DISA's Multinational Information Sharing (MNIS) Program ensures that coalition forces can work together and communicate effectively. DISA establishes the standards for information formatting and encryptionEncryption
In cryptography, encryption is the process of transforming information using an algorithm to make it unreadable to anyone except those possessing special knowledge, usually referred to as a key. The result of the process is encrypted information...
, and facilitate the sharing of that information in a single joint environment.
Net-centric enterprise services
Net-Centric Enterprise Services (NCES) connects people and systems that have information (data and services) with those who need information.Satellite communications services
Within the DoD, DISA leads satellite communications (SATCOM) services. DISA is involved in:- Commercial SATCOM: DISA is the sole authorized provider of commercial SATCOM services to the DoD.
- DoD Teleport System: DISA provides voice, video, and data reachback capabilities.
- Joint Internet Protocol Modem (JIPM): DISA is developing Teleports for secure transmissionSecure transmissionIn computer science, Secure Transmission refers to the transfer of data such as confidential or proprietary information over a secure channel. Many secure transmission methods require a type of encryption. The most common email encryption is called PKI...
of Internet Protocol over satellite communication systems. - Presidential Communication Modernization (PCM): DISA provides voice, video, and data communications capabilities for the president and his staff.
- Global Electromagnetic Spectrum Information System (GEMSIS): DISA is ensures spectrum access for warfighters.
Spectrum
DISA's Defense Spectrum Organization (DSO) is the center of excellence for electromagnetic spectrum analysis and the development of integrated spectrum plans and long-term strategies to address current and future needs for DoD spectrum access. DSO provides direct operational support to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffChairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is by law the highest ranking military officer in the United States Armed Forces, and is the principal military adviser to the President of the United States, the National Security Council, the Homeland Security Council and the Secretary of Defense...
, Combatant Commanders, Secretaries of Military Departments, and Directors of Defense Agencies.
Testing
Information technology systems and equipment must communicate not only within a specific branch of the military, but with other services, agencies, and coalition partners. DISA's Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) tests and provides joint certification for the [net-centric] systems employed by US armed forces.Voice, video, and data services
DISA serves as the single senior manager for all Defense Information System Network (DISN) activities. It translates customers' wide area networkWide area network
A wide area network is a telecommunication network that covers a broad area . Business and government entities utilize WANs to relay data among employees, clients, buyers, and suppliers from various geographical locations...
(DoD calls these "long-haul") requirements into effective voice, video, and data network solutions; leverages proven and emerging technologies to ensure joint interoperability, assured security, and best value; evaluates technical operation and user mission effectiveness; and resolves technical support issues for DoD's long-haul networks.
Defense Communications Agency (1960–1991)
The Defense Communications Agency (DCA) was established May 12, 1960 by then-Secretary of Defense Thomas S. Gates. Its mission was to manage the Defense Communications System (DCS), a consolidation of the independent long-haul communications functions of the ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
, and Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
.
In the 1960s, DCA moved to Arlington, Virginia, and took on several major organizations. The Air Force Office of Commercial Communications Management (now the Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization), the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Signal Agency (now the White House Communications Agency), and the DoD Damage Assessment Center (now the Joint Staff Support Center) all became a part of DCA. DCA also established six regional communications control centers and two area centers for operational control of the DCS.
In the 1970s, DCA subsumed the Minimum Essential Emergency Communications Network and the Military Satellite Communications Systems Office. It also became responsible for engineering and operating the Worldwide Military Command and Control System. In the 1980s, DCA absorbed the Joint Tactical Command, Control, and Communications Agency, improving its ability to manage and enhance the interoperability of command, control, and communications systems. The Joint Interoperability Test Command was formed within DCA to provide interoperability compliance testing and certification.
The directors of the Defense Communications Agency were:
- 1960–1962 Rear Admiral William D. Irvin, United States Navy
- 1962–1964 LTG Alfred D. Starbird, United States Army
- 1964–1967
- 1967–1971 Lt. Gen. Richard P. KlockoRichard P. KlockoLieutenant General Richard Phillip Klocko was an American Air Force lieutenant general and command pilot who was director, Defense Communications Agency, Washington, D.C.-Biography:...
, United States Air Force - 1971–1974 Lt. Gen. Gordon T. Gould, Jr., United States Air Force
- 1974–1978 Lt. Gen. Lee M. Paschall, United States Air Force
- 1978–1980 Vice Admiral Samuel L. Gravely, Jr., United States Navy
- 1980–1983 LTG William J. Hilsman, United States Army
- 1983–1985 Lt. Gen. Winston D. Powers, United States Air Force
- 1985–1987
- 1987–1991 LTG John T. Myers, United States Army
Defense Information Systems Agency (since 1991)
On June 25, 1991, DCA was renamed DISA to reflect its role in providing total information systems management for the DoD. DISA implemented several Defense Management Report Decisions (DMRD), most notably DMRD 918, which created the Defense Information Infrastructure, now known as the Global Information GridGlobal Information Grid
The Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
(GIG). DISA consolidated several (148) information processing centers, then operated by the Service Components and Defense Agencies, into 16 Defense megacenters and, within a few years, consolidated them further into five mainframe-processing centers known as Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECC) operated by DISA. The Joint Spectrum Center and the Defense Technical Information Center
Defense Technical Information Center
The Defense Technical Information Center is the premier repository for research and engineering information for the United States Department of Defense. DTIC's Suite of Services is available to DoD personnel, defense contractors, potential defense contractors, federal government personnel and...
also became part of DISA. Employment peaks at more than 12,000 military and civilian members.
With the onset of the Global War on Terror and Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, DISA has been at the heart of providing the telecommunications and information systems that enable 21st century joint warfighting. The build up for Iraqi Freedom is the largest implementation of telecommunications and information technology in the history of warfare.
DISA, today, is in the forefront of the development of net-centric enterprise services, which will enable information sharing by connecting people and systems that have information with those who need information; development of net-enabled command capabilities, which will revolutionize command and control supporting joint warfighting; providing network services; and providing computing services that support more than 8 million users of more than 1,400 applications, using more than 1.7 petabytes of storage. DISA’s Computing Services is the number-one provider of Defense personnel, payroll, logistics, accounting, and medical records processing.
DISA has been awarded five Joint Meritorious Unit Award
Joint Meritorious Unit Award
The Joint Meritorious Unit Award is a military award that was established on June 4, 1981 by Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger and was implemented by Department of Defense Directive 1348.27 dated July 22, 1982...
s (similar to the Oscar Awards in which someone has to win) and continues to offer DoD information systems
Information systems
Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
support, taking data services to the forward-deployed warfighter.
DISA's mission, responsibilities, functions, relationships, and authorities, under the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Networks and Information Integration/DoD Chief Information Officer (ASD (NII)/DoD CIO) are outlined in DoDD 5105.19, Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), 25 July 2006.
The directors of the Defense Information Systems Agency have been:
- 2000-2005 Lt. Gen. Harry D. Raduege, Jr., United States Air Force
- 2005-2008 Lt. Gen. Charles E. Croom Jr., United States Air Force
- 2008-present LTG Carroll F. Pollett, United States Army
SIPRNET
The SIPRNETSIPRNet
The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...
(Secret [formerly Secure] Internet Protocol Router Network) is a system of interconnected computer networks used by the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
(up to and including information classified SECRET
Classified information in the United States
The United States government classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the...
) by packet switching
Packet switching
Packet switching is a digital networking communications method that groups all transmitted data – regardless of content, type, or structure – into suitably sized blocks, called packets. Packet switching features delivery of variable-bit-rate data streams over a shared network...
over the TCP/IP protocol
Communications protocol
A communications protocol is a system of digital message formats and rules for exchanging those messages in or between computing systems and in telecommunications...
s in a "completely secure" environment. It also provides services such as hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
documents and electronic mail. In other words, the SIPRNET is the DoD’s classified version of the civilian Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
together with its counterpart, the Top Secret
Security clearance
A security clearance is a status granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information, i.e., state secrets, or to restricted areas after completion of a thorough background check. The term "security clearance" is also sometimes used in private organizations that have a formal...
and SCI Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System, JWICS.
NIPRNET
NIPRNETNIPRNet
The Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network is used to exchange sensitive but unclassified information between "internal" users as well as providing users access to the Internet. NIPRNet is composed of Internet Protocol routers owned by the United States Department of Defense...
(Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network) (formerly called the Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network) is used to exchange unclassified but sensitive information between "internal" users as well as providing military personnel access to the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, although certain social networking websites such as YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
Facebook
Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...
, Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
Twitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
, and some Google Apps
Google Apps
Google Apps is a service from Google providing independently customizable versions of several Google products under a custom domain name. It features several Web applications with similar functionality to traditional office suites, including: Gmail, Google Groups, Google Calendar, Talk, Docs and...
remained restricted by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). This restriction on the use of NIPRNET for social networking services (SNS) was lifted in February 2010, in a DoD Directive-Type Memorandum that outlined the Department's new stance on SNS "the NIPERNET shall be configured to provide access to all Internet-based capabilities (including SNS) across all DoD Components" http://www.defense.gov/NEWS/DTM%2009-026.pdf. NIPRNET is composed of Internet protocol routers owned by the U.S. Department of Defense. It was created by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) to supersede the earlier MILNET
MILNET
In computer networking, MILNET was the name given to the part of the ARPANET internetwork designated for unclassified United States Department of Defense traffic....
.
GIG-BE
The Global Information Grid Bandwidth ExpansionGlobal Information Grid-Bandwidth Expansion
The Global Information Grid Bandwidth Expansion Program was a major United States Department of Defense net-centric transformational initiative executed by DISA. GIG-BE created a ubiquitous "bandwidth-available" environment to improve national security intelligence, surveillance and...
(GIG-BE) program created a “bandwidth-available” environment to improve national security intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, information assurance, as well as command and control. Through GIG-BE, DISA leveraged DOD’s existing end-to-end information transport capabilities, significantly expanding capacity and reliability to select Joint Staff
Joint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
-approved locations worldwide. GIG-BE achieved full operational capacity on December 20 , 2005.
RACE
The Rapid Access Computing Environment (RACE), became operational in October 2008 under the joint guidance of DISA's Computing Services and Chief Technology Office.A user-self service provisioning portal allows DoD users to provision LAMP
LAMP (software bundle)
LAMP is an acronym for a solution stack of free, open source software, referring to the first letters of Linux , Apache HTTP Server, MySQL and PHP , principal components to build a viable general purpose web server.The GNU project is advocating people to use the term "GLAMP" since what is known as...
or Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
servers within its secured computing environment within 24 hours. This is a private cloud, and one of the first forays into cloud computing
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
by the United States federal government.
Forge.mil
In April 2009, DISA made operational an open source/government source software lifecycle development cycle patterned after the open source community's SourceForgeSourceForge
SourceForge Enterprise Edition is a collaborative revision control and software development management system. It provides a front-end to a range of software development lifecycle services and integrates with a number of free software / open source software applications .While originally itself...
.net.
Forge.mil is a DISA-led activity designed to improve the ability of the U.S. Department of Defense to rapidly deliver dependable software, services and systems in support of net-centric operations and warfare. Forge.mil will:
- Enable cross-program sharing of software, system components, and services
- Promote early and continuous collaboration among all stakeholders (e.g., developers, material providers, testers, operators, and users) throughout the development life-cycle
- Rapidly deliver effective and efficient development and test capabilities for DoD technology development efforts
- Help protect the operational environment from potentially harmful systems and services
- Encourage modularity so that large programs to be developed, fielded, and operated as a set of independent components that can evolve and mature at their own rates
- Eliminate duplicative testing and improve dependability by adopting common test and evaluation criteria supported by standard testing tools and methods
The Forge.mil family of services today consists of three offerings - SoftwareForge, ProjectForge and Forge.mil Community. SoftwareForge is a free service available on both the NIPRNet and SIPRNet.
ProjectForge is a fee for service capability currently available for unclassified use.
Forge.mil Community is a collaborative content and knowledge management site for Forge.mil users to connect and share information using social collaboration tools such as group blogs, discussions, wiki, documents and polls. While the project teams on SoftwareForge and ProjectForge are focused on their individual project or projects, the Forge.mil Community site provides teams/individuals working to solve similar problems and/or discuss similar challenges that transcend a single project or set of projects a means to self organize around these challenges to develop common solutions.
The Forge.mil Community site provides a 'social' collaboration layer to augment and integrate with the current capabilities in Forge.mil. Group associations with a project or a set of projects provides a more holistic view of software development activity and allows project teams and individuals to better connect, collaborate, share information and expand the discussions within a wider audience.
Forge.mil Community also provides a forum for teams, and individuals who are not necessarily working on the development of software but who have knowledge and experience to contribute and share with a wider community. Forge.mil Community allows for the formation of groups built around communities of interest, organizations, mission areas, or specific technologies as well as groups created around topics of interest to the Information Technology Acquisition Community such as Section 804 Compliance, general CAC/PKI information, Software Development Best Practices to include Agile, and contract strategies for the use of Forge.mil and Agile.
Software as a service
In July 2009, the Air Force Personnel CenterAir Force Personnel Center
The Air Force Personnel Center is a field operating agency of Headquarters, U.S. Air Force, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Personnel.AFPC operates the Air Force Contact Center, where personnel experts provide customer service...
at Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base
Randolph Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located east-northeast of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 902d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
confirmed that DISA will host the Air Force instantiation of the RightNow Technologies
RightNow Technologies
RightNow Technologies is a U.S. software company that develops customer relationship management software for enterprise organizations. It is incorporated in Delaware and headquartered in Bozeman, Montana....
' Commercial off-the-shelf
Commercial off-the-shelf
In the United States, Commercially available Off-The-Shelf is a Federal Acquisition Regulation term defining a nondevelopmental item of supply that is both commercial and sold in substantial quantities in the commercial marketplace, and that can be procured or utilized under government contract...
personnel customer service and self-service applications at its Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECC). RightNow will maintain the software applications in a similar fashion to its privately hosted Software as a service
Software as a Service
Software as a service , sometimes referred to as "on-demand software," is a software delivery model in which software and its associated data are hosted centrally and are typically accessed by users using a thin client, normally using a web browser over the Internet.SaaS has become a common...
(SaaS) offerings.
See also
- Global Information GridGlobal Information GridThe Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense.It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to...
- Joint Task Force-Global Network OperationsJoint Task Force-Global Network OperationsJoint Task Force-Global Network Operations was a subordinate command of United States Strategic Command whose mission is to: direct the operation and defense of the Global Information Grid across strategic, operational, and tactical boundaries in support of the US Department of Defense's full...
- NetOpsNetopsNetOps is defined as the operational framework consisting of three essential tasks, Situational Awareness , and Command & Control that the Commander of US Strategic Command , in coordination with DoD and Global NetOps Community, employs to operate, manage and defend the Global Information Grid ...
- Information Assurance Vulnerability AlertInformation Assurance Vulnerability AlertAn information assurance vulnerability alert is an announcement of a computer application software or operating system vulnerability notification in the form of alerts, bulletins, and technical advisories identified by DoD-CERT, a division of the United States Cyber Command...
- Engineering and Installation Site Implementation Team (EI SIT)
- United States Cyber CommandUnited States Cyber CommandUnited States Cyber Command is an armed forces sub-unified command subordinate to United States Strategic Command. The command is located in Fort Meade, Maryland and led by General Keith B. Alexander. USCYBERCOM centralizes command of cyberspace operations, organizes existing cyber resources and...
External links
- Official site
- DISA Mission Page
- DISA History Page
- DISA Services Page, DISA NIPRNet and SIPRNet
- Globalsecurity.org, GIG-BE Info
- http://www.disa.mil/ns/eisit.html, DISA EI SIT