FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. -- The Defense Information Systems Agency recently achieved initial operational capability in its mission as the cloud broker for the Department of Defense.
DOD CIO Teri Takai designated DISA as the DoD cloud broker in June 2012. In this role, DISA will enable the department to obtain secure, dependable, resilient, multi-provider cloud computing capabilities that will enhance mission effectiveness, improve IT efficiencies, and meet Joint Information Environment objectives.
Reaching IOC means DISA has the framework in place for executing this mission. To date, DISA has established a process for gathering and assessing mission partner requirements, evaluation criteria for service offerings to include recommended contract requirements, criteria for matching mission partner requirements to the appropriate offerings, an Enterprise Cloud Service Catalog, and a cloud security model.
Leveraging the cloud security model, DISA has performed cybersecurity assessments of the two commercial cloud services that have been granted Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) Joint Authorization Board Provisional Authorizations. Approval for use of these two commercial cloud services for information approved for public release is imminent. DISA continues to conduct security assessments to expand alternatives for future cloud service offering.
An important element of the cloud broker effort is to facilitate contracting and acquisition by developing model contract language that supports implementation of the cloud security model and appropriate use of commercial cloud services. This work is ongoing and will make it easier for mission partners to ensure they have considered all the appropriate areas when they contract for cloud services.
In the coming months, DISA will evolve and further automate the cloud service request process, incorporate new offerings into the service catalog, and enhance the security model in order to further accommodate mission partner requirements.
Mission partners can request cloud services at: http://disa.mil/Services/DoD-Cloud-Broker/Cloud-Service-Request. More information is available on the Cloud Broker web page at: http://disa.mil/Services/DoD-Cloud-Broker.