NJVC’s Kevin L. Jackson Co-Authors INSA White Paper on Cloud Computing for the Intelligence Community

Findings Reflect Insight from More than 50 Cloud Thought Leaders

 

VIENNA, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NJVC^®, one of the largest information technology solutions (IT) providers supporting the U.S. Department of Defense, announces that a white paper addressing the risks and benefits of cloud computing for the intelligence community (IC)—co-authored by Kevin L. Jackson, NJVC vice president and general manager, cloud services—was released today. The Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) released the white paper in conjunction with Government Executive magazine at a cloud computing panel discussion at the National Press Club in Washington.

“The government-industry collaboration demonstrated by this study serves as an important model for us all. I thank everyone involved for their individual contributions in support of the whole.”

The white paper, “Cloud Computing: Risks, Benefits and Mission Enhancement for the Intelligence Community,” was developed by Jackson and other members of INSA’s Cloud Computing Task Force: Bob Gourley, task force chairman, Crucial Point, LLC founder and chief technology officer; Maureen McGovern, KSB Solutions president; and John Totah, task force team leader and Oracle National Security Group technical director.
Based on information collected from more than 50 interviews with cloud thought leaders and policy makers in the public and private sectors, the white paper found:

• IC decision-makers are focused on the business model implications of cloud computing, which represents a new approach in the provisioning and consumption of IT.
• For the IC, the decision to move to the cloud must be focused on “mission enablement” on a case-by-case basis. Cost savings must also consider the entire IT lifecycle, not periodic budget cycles.
• Information security must be baked into the cloud computing architecture from the very beginning.
• The type of cloud model adopted by an IC agency is directly related to the sensitivity of its data.
• IC agencies looking to migrate to the cloud must also consider “impacts on organizational culture.”
• Adoption of cloud computing may improve the way IC agencies procure IT services, software and hardware.
• “Thoughtful federal input” about emerging cloud computing standards (e.g., FedRAMP) can contribute to the cloud’s security and cost efficiencies. An IC-based cloud architecture also must be able to support multiple standards.
• Sharing lessons learned from the IT industry, private sector and academia is essential to reducing cloud computing risk in the IC.

“NJVC is proud to be a member of the INSA Cloud Computing Task Force and to have contributed to the organization’s new white paper on cloud computing for the IC,” Jackson said. “This study provides important contributions to both IC mission requirements and the Director of National Intelligence’s fiscal goals.”
“The expertise of Kevin Jackson and NJVC in the IC market was hugely beneficial to the INSA white paper development team,” Gourley said. “The government-industry collaboration demonstrated by this study serves as an important model for us all. I thank everyone involved for their individual contributions in support of the whole.”

The whitepaper is available for download at http://www.slideshare.net/kvjacksn/insa-cloud-computing2012final

About NJVC^®
With a focus on information technology automation, NJVC^® specializes in supporting highly secure, complex IT enterprises in mission-critical environments, particularly for the intelligence and defense communities. We offer a wide breadth of IT and strategic solutions to our customers, ranging from strategic consulting to managed flexible services in five business areas: Cloud Services, Cyber Security, Data Center Services, IT Services and Print Solutions. Our global workforce includes dedicated and talented employees with 94 percent holding security clearances located at more than 170 customer sites. We partner with our customers to support their missions. To learn more, visit www.njvc.com.

About INSA
The Intelligence and National Security Alliance is the premier intelligence and national security organization that brings together the public, private and academic sectors to collaborate on the most challenging policy issues and solutions. As a non-profit, non-partisan, public-private organization, INSA’s ultimate goal is to promote and recognize the highest standards within the national security and intelligence communities. INSA has more than 160 corporate members and several hundred individual members who are leaders and senior executives throughout government, the private sector and academia. To learn more about INSA visit www.insaonline.org.

Contacts

NJVC
Michelle Snyder, 703-893-7609
michelle.snyder@njvc.com
or
5StarPR
Audra Capas, 703-437-9301
audra@5starpr.com

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