NORFOLK (NNS) -- Navy Cyber Forces (NCF) Fleet Functional Area Manager/Fleet Applications and Solutions Team (FAM/FAST) visited the Norfolk waterfront along with Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR) to conduct a proof-in - a hands-on test for shipboard applications viability - on board USS Cole (DDG-67).
Ken Brown and Bruce Burkett, both Booz Allen Hamilton contractors, NCF, and Louis Angelo, SPAWAR contractor with Engility Corporation, comprised the NCF Fleet FAM/FAST team.
First stop, a quick in-brief with the Cole's Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Dennis Farrell, Executive Officer, Cmdr. James A. Quaresimo and other shipboard communication personnel. Cole leadership welcomed the opportunity to assist in testing this updated capability to improve shipboard software application auditing. The focus of the proof-in was the revised Common PC Operating System Environment (COMPOSE) application discovery tool and centered on the skillsets of Information Systems Technician 1st Class (SW) Armando Acevedo, a shipboard information system technician, to successfully install the update and then perform all steps of the COMPOSE 3.0.X application discovery tool standard operating procedure (SOP) without outside influence.
In the server room, Angelo handed Acevedo a set of instructions and then stepped back. "I'm here to facilitate," said Angelo said. The purpose of a proof-in is to determine if "system administrators can follow the documentation provided and successfully patch the baseline without any additional support."
The revised COMPOSE application discovery tool addressed an issue with the current version that requires system administrators to closely monitor and respond whenever the tool attempts to scan a computer that is either not running or is not communicating on the network for some reason.
"The new tool will skip over computers that cannot be contacted and complete the scan without further operator action, allowing the system administrator to let it run in an unattended mode," Angelo said. In addition, the revised tool adds new functionality to provide more data about each of the software applications installed on shipboard computers.
The proof-in took approximately 30 minutes and was well-received by Acevedo. "This software revision makes my job easier because it has some new features and fixes. I can now start the scan and walk away and let the scan finish," Acevedo said. "Added feature displays detailed information of all software scanned, where in the previous version that was not available. This alone made reviewing the scan results very time consuming."
According to Angelo, the proof-in process is required whenever new functionality is added to an existing baseline. The successful proof-in opens the door for additional platforms with the COMPOSE application tool to be updated with the revised edition. According to Acevedo, the revised COMPOSE 3.0.X is a welcomed improvement. "The revision will allow network administrators to be accurate and efficient with software scans."
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Original publication date Nov. 13, 2013 from Navy.mil news.