Cloud architects, virtualization engineers and cybersecurity experts are all a part of the emerging industries responsible for a majority of defense department IT job growth over the past several years. As web threats become more prevalent and data storage becomes more costly, new sectors are emerging to match problems with solutions.
One leader who’s embracing the defense department shift to the cloud is Army Gen. Keith Alexander, head of U.S. Cyber Command and director of the National Security Agency. Speaking before DARPA’s Cyber Colloquium in Arlington, Va. today, Alexander said moving to the cloud just “makes sense.”
Within DoD today there are over 15,000 enclaves and a labyrinth of networks, making it nearly impossible for Cyber Command to adequately monitor and defend against breaches. A move to the cloud would streamline services and consolidate data centers, making patching problems that become apparent and securing systems easier.
Rather than creating new systems or solutions, cloud computing is one area where the government is looking to commercial vendors and open source technology. In another announcement today Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), a leading provider of scientific, engineering, systems integration and technical services and solutions, and Red Hat, an open source solutions provider, announced a collaboration to deliver cloud computing technologies through SAIC’s Advanced Computer Engineering (ACE) laboratory in Charleston, S.C.
The laboratory will provide a physical and virtual space to promote cloud computing best practices. Affordability and scalability are key tenants, a critical feature as government and defense department belts tighten in the face of budget cuts. With an industry so new, finding the right talent to work on solutions, as well as developing innovative partnerships to help field them to clients, are critical components.
As defense experts continue to speak publicly on the need – and desire – for cloud-based solutions, we can expect industry leaders to continue stepping up to the plate to provide the software and skills to meet the challenge.
