Navy CANES and Cloud Computing

During the first quarter of 2010, the Navy is expected to make the first selection for the Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise System (CANES). CANES is just one component of the Navy’s overall strategy for its future information technology infrastructure. According to Vice Admiral Harry B. Harris, deputy chief of naval operations for communications networks and deputy chief information officer, CANES will provide 75,000 seats on 192 ships and submarines and at nine maritime operation centers across the fleet. CANES also represents the Navy’s response to fleet demands for a robust tactical network. Some also argue that CANES is the Navy’s transition to virtualization, SOA and cloud computing adoption strategy. If this discussion interest you, please read my article on the subject recently published in Military Information Technology magazine, "CANES and the Cloud".

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Comments from Mr. Robert Carey, DON CIO and Army COS General George W. Casey, Jr

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had the distinct pleasure to listen to both Mr. Robert Carey, CIO, Department of the Navy, and General George W. Casey, Jr., Chief of Staff US Army. Some of my observations are summarized below:

Mr. Robert Carey

• IT connectivity brings stability to the world. The world’s hotspots coincide with places that lack IT connectivity
• The US is currently in a cyberwar. Cybersecurity is our #1 issue.
• DON CIO major focus areas include encryption of data at rest, increased information security and increased information reliability
• The Navy's next generation network will be responsive to the operational commander, unleash the collaborative nature of the Millennium Generation and empower our future warriors.
• The Navy's next generation network will build on the lessons learned in developing the world's largest intranet, allowing the control and cost visibility necessary to migrate off expensive vulnerable legacy networks.
• Industry needs to provide Net-Centric Licensing
• Information sharing initiatives require we move in a direction that allows us to share National Security information with whomever requires access
• “I’m passionate about Web 2.0 technologies!”

General George W. Casey

• The US Army is transforming to be able to conduct offensive, defensive and stability operation simultaneously within a sustained conflict environment
• Advances in technology exacerbate the problem
• The force will operate abroad
• Our force will need to work with indigenous forces
• Military power will need to work closely with all other elements of national power
• A 21st Century transformed force and its people must be versatile
• A 21st Century transformed force must be intellectually and institutionally agile
• The network is central to building the 21st Century force
• Soldiers will have handheld devices from which they will be able to access the Army’s information
• The network must be protected
• A network that collaborates is critical to institutional agility
• The Army must have the ability to generate world class information technology capabilities in a garrisoned environment and an enhanced ability for people to collaborate
• Common IT standards must be accepted

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