DISA Cloud Computing Plans

Why the Cloud? Processing, Exploitation and Dissemination

By G C Network | October 23, 2008

So why is the intelligence community so interested in cloud computing? Three letters: PED (Processing, Exploitation, Dissemination). Take these two real life examples from the publishing industry. Jim Staten of…

World Summit of Cloud Computing: “Enterprise Cloud Computing” work group

By G C Network | October 22, 2008

To leverage attendees of the World Summit of Cloud Computing, a kick-off meeting of the “Enterprise Cloud Computing” work group will be held near Tel Aviv, Israel on December 3,…

Cloud Package Management

By G C Network | October 21, 2008

In his post “Missing in the Cloud: package management“, Dave Rosenberg highlights a critical issue in the adoption of cloud computing by government agencies. “I dare say that a standard…

PlugIntoTheCloud.com

By G C Network | October 20, 2008

Information Week has just launched PlugIntoTheCloud.com as their cloud computing destination. In his Non Linear Thinking blog, Bill Martin calls it a movement aimed at “providing a source and forum…

Is the cloud computing hype bad?

By G C Network | October 17, 2008

From Gartner “Why a little cloud hype might be useful“: “It’s too simplistic to say cloud hype is bad . If we are technically expert is might irritate us with…

Stop the FUD (Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt) !!

By G C Network | October 16, 2008

Dan Morrill! Count me in !! In his excellent article, “Cloud Computing is Scary – But the FUD Has to Stop“,  Dan makes some excellent points: It is time to…

IBM, Microsoft and Google

By G C Network | October 15, 2008

On October 6th, IBM launched their cloud services initiative. This is a:  “[C]ompany-wide initiative that extends its traditional software delivery model toward a mix of on-premise and cloud computing applications…

Government in the Cloud

By G C Network | October 13, 2008

Back in mid-September, there was quite a thread in the Google Cloud Computing Group on the use of cloud computing by the federal government.  Some of the interesting comments were:…

CloudCamp Partners With SOA-R !!

By G C Network | October 10, 2008

I’m proud to announce that the final SOA-R Cloud Computing Education Event will be held in collaboration with CloudCamp. Now dubbed CloudCamp:Federal, the event will be held as an “unconference” to help…

Federal Cloud Computing Wiki

By G C Network | October 9, 2008

With the fast growing interest in cloud computing, the Federal Government community has established a Federal Cloud Computing Wiki. This wiki is managed by Dr. Brand Niemann, Senior Enterprise Architect…

During last month’s Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Partnership Conference, cloud computing debuted as a “top priority” for senior leadership. Speakers described a future state when users would access computing time from DISA’s “cloud” to run applications without requiring access to a traditional server. John Garing, DISA CIO, said that the Government is looking to only pay for usage. Cloud computing and virtualization were identified as growing business segments and have quickly been adopted by DISA leadership as a service to DoD customers. Led by DISA’s Computing Services unit this new service will provide military users a faster, cheaper source to run applications in an on-demand environment. Called the Rapid Access Computing Environment (RACE) this “cloud” will give warfighters the ability to configure, order and access a server on the network in less than 24 hours.

While I applaud DISA on their rapid adoption of the cloud concept, I am very concerned about their apparent implemetation path. Unless I’m reading this wrong, DISA is focused on deploying a quicker, easier and less expensive model for providing warfigher access to server hardware and storage. If so, I believe they are missing a very key point. Cloud computing is about providing quick, easy and less expensive access to information. To accomplish this, DISA must also provide web services and the means to effectively consume the information provided by those services.

What makes the Google and Amazon clouds worthwhile is their ability to manipulate information. Server hardware and storage aren’t even in the discussion.

Read more about DISA’s plans in the INPUT article 2008 DISA Partnership Conference – Spotlight on DISA’s Strategic Vision and the Resulting Programs

Follow me at https://Twitter.com/Kevin_Jackson

G C Network

3 Comments

  1. Anonymous on August 9, 2008 at 2:41 pm

    Clearly you comments regarding RACE is based upon press releases not on the the studt of RACE architecture. I am refering to your comments that ” am very concerned about their apparent implemetation path. Unless I’m reading this wrong, DISA is focused on deploying a quicker, easier and less expensive model for providing warfigher access to server hardware and storage. If so, I believe they are missing a very key point. Cloud computing is about providing quick, easy and less expensive access to information.

    RACE is a service delivery paltform. The initial service offering is the infrastructure more services will follow.



  2. Kevin Jackson on August 9, 2008 at 11:11 pm

    Unfortunately, I’m not in a position to review the RACE architecture. If RACE is indeed a service delivery platform, then I contend that the press releases should address the planned evolution of RACE. In the Military Information Technology Magazine article “Net-centricity: Adjusting the Focus” Bill Gerety and I actually addressed the need for DISA’s evolution towards information delivery as an end state.

    “DISA should be clearly commended on their rapid adoption of the cloud concept. Its initial focus on deploying a quicker, easier and less expensive model for providing warfigher access to server hardware and storage is a critical first step towards the realization of a truly net-centric military. The next step should ensure that this transition does not stall before completion. Cloud computing is about providing quick, easy and less expensive access to information. Success is only possible with a focused determination to deliver on this final end state. Just think about it. How successful would Google be with its cloud if it were providing the ability to ‘order and access a server’?”

    Services may be an initial first step, but only the delivery of information will address the warfighter’s real requirements. A service platform is OK, but translating those services into actionable information is what a net-centric force requires.



  3. Anonymous on April 30, 2009 at 1:59 am

    ^^Thanks!!

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