DEFENSE MESSAGE SYSTEM (DMS)
DESCRIPTION
The Defense Message System (DMS) is the system of record for organizational messaging used by the Department of Defense. It is a modified commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) application that provides multimedia messaging, directory, and security services. DMS uses the underlying Defense Information Infrastructure (DII) network and security services in conjunction with National Security Agency (NSA) security products.
SCOPE
DMS is operational at DoD locations worldwide.
CAPABILITIES AND SERVICES
DMS provides message service to all DoD users (including deployed tactical users), interfaces with other U.S. government agencies, allied forces, and defense contractors. DMS makes available secure organizational messaging and/or record traffic supporting confidentiality, integrity, non-repudiation, and guaranteed delivery of information. The National Gateway System, with centers at Fort Detrick, Md., and the Pentagon (the Pentagon Telecommunications Center), provides DoD with a continuing capability to satisfy legacy messaging requirements, allied and tactical interoperability, and emergency-action-message (EAM) dissemination.
IMPLEMENTATION
The full range of DMS operational capabilities continues to be sustained through coordinated product releases. Each sustainment release provides necessary commercial updates to fielded products as part of an integrated system. Release 3.1 underwent extensive testing in fiscal year 2005 and was approved for fielding Dec. 15, 2005. This release provides the final phase of DMS directory security, along with improvements in system management capabilities, alternate recipient capabilities to support continued user service in the event of user-system failures, commercial upgrades of domain Fortezza servers (including AMHS and DMDS), and commercial upgrades of both the Microsoft Exchange server (to Exchange 2003) and the Microsoft Windows server operating system (to Windows 2003).
FORECAST
DMS will continue to shift from a predominantly writer-to-reader topology to a domain Fortezza topology.