Network Integrity Systems is a Silver Sponsor of the Telos Security Solutions 2012 conference, happening this week in Tampa, FL.
In her opening address at Security Solutions 2012, LTG Susan S. Lawrence, the US Army CIO/G-6 re-iterated the Army's shrinking budget and the new way the Army is doing business now, compared to the last 10 years. She summed it up in a very simple challenge statement: requirements and threats are on the rise while funding continues to decline. While this is today's reality, the requirement to be prepared to 'fight tonight', anywhere around the world never changes.
The network modernization shift includes shifting focus from an Army–centric network to joint capabilities. LTG Lawrence's vision includes users ability to access their data from any device, anywhere, leveraging secure cloud storage. End user devices (laptops, tablets, smart phones, tactical radios, etc.) become more disposable, and put the government and the user at less risk should the device become compromised. These devices are rapidly changing and upgraded by industry, so the government no longer needs to plan long term O&M when replacement will occur quick and at a relatively low cost.
Implementing this modernization vision cost effectively entails leveraging COTS technologies in lieu of expensive, slow moving, program contract-driven technologies. Security of the network infrastructure and host centers of the data (whether private or public cloud) is critical and requires flexibility to support a standards-based interoperable platform. In addition to cloud concepts, LTG Lawrence, as an additional efficiency for reducing the desktop footprint and increasing mobility, referenced cross-domain technology and the ability for the warfighter to access all data, no matter what classification, over a single secure infrastructure.
While the INTERCEPTOR™ intelligent-PDS is a great fit for this model as a COTS technology leveraging open standards, efficiencies for deploying secure networks are further enhanced by combining INTERCEPTOR with JITC certified Passive Optical Networking (PON) technology. Telos has recognized the significance of this partnership and has integrated INTERCEPTOR with Tellabs PON equipment in the Technology Center at the conference, creating an Secure PON (S-PON) solution. S-PON enables deployment of multiple classifications of networks over the same network infrastructure leveraging cross-domain and cloud technologies, and provides 24/7/365 real-time monitoring of the infrastructure to identify any intrusion attempts.
INTERCEPTOR alone can save the government 50-90% of the costs per classified network drop on a given deployment (based on port density), and provide the government with a technology that’s scalable, and re-deployable, eliminating the need for PDS-specific construction efforts related to installing SIPR or higher classification networks. PON technology can save the government 50% or more on network device hardware and cabling, physical space requirements, and power/cooling costs. Combining INTERCEPTOR and PON provides unsurpassed efficiencies and capabilities, and that message is resonating with the leaders representing the Army, Air Force, and industry at the conference. Click here to learn more about S-PON.
It's exciting for NIS to see policy and planning shifting to focus on efficiencies, security, information assurance, and scalability to support the warfighter. INTERCEPTOR has been developed and deployed over the last 10 years focusing on these concepts as a modernized way to secure and deploy SIPR and higher classification networks. With the game now changing, strategic planning is required to leverage today's funds to efficiently deploy and scale secure networks.
As the conference continues, the focus turns to Information Insurance, Cloud Computing, Cyber Defense and Network Security, and other sessions being hosted by Telos. These topics are important to the evolution of INTERCEPTOR deployments, and a critical component in the Information Assurance role in designing and approving secure network implementations and ensuring low-risk deployments of the technology. The increased awareness of IA and security topics, combined with rapidly growing awareness of INTERCEPTOR, will help more government customers identify needs for and execute the deployment of INTERCEPTOR and related integrated solutions such as S-PON.
