DoD has released a cloud computing strategy it will use to transition its network applications away from vertical solutions that are "duplicative, cumbersome, and costly," toward an "agile, secure, and cost effective service environment that can rapidly respond to changing mission needs."
The department’s CIO, Teri Takai, explained that DoD is moving to an enterprise cloud environment supporting its joint information environment. He said the strategy focuses on the creation of core data centers, enterprise cloud infrastructure and a long-term shift to cloud services.
DoD noted that there are substantial risks to relying so extensively on cloud services, comprising remotely accessed computing resources, software and storage. It said it has specific cloud computing challenges that require careful adoption considerations, especially in areas of IA and cybersecurity, continuity of operations, and resilience.
Service acquisition and continued funding, data migration and management, and overcoming network dependence at the tactical edge are also challenges that need to be addressed to ensure objectives can be met, DoD said.
It said the CIO, working with other key department leaders, is going to help establish funding models to sustain the development of core shared data center infrastructure and the enterprise cloud environment, and that the CIO will be the final decision authority and will provide oversight for component execution of data center and server consolidation.
DoD emphasized that active participation and commitment of all its components, in collaboration with the CIO, is critical to ensure consistency, optimize benefits, and meet the strategy’s goals.
