Cloud computing – remotely hosting network services and data – is an emerging concept in the business world that enables the use of mobile devices, increases security, and enables more effective information sharing within organizations. Within the last year, the U.S. Department of Defense has mandated that its networks be consolidated in order to achieve the goals of efficiency, effectiveness, and security. Through cloud computing across the network as an entire enterprise, efforts such as the Joint Information Environment and Enterprise Email endeavor to achieve those goals.
The view of military networks as an enterprise blurs the existing lines between garrison and tactical. Consolidation efforts are effective in permanent, garrison networks that are connected with high-bandwidth, fiber optic cables. Furthermore, hosting mission-critical services and data in the cloud will save resources and increase cyber security in the long run. However, similar application of consolidation efforts in the temporary, tactical networks which are employed in austere environments presents unique challenges that will be more effectively overcome if mission command systems are developed for use in both environments, remaining issues of physical security are more fully addressed, and if the concepts of cyber are effectively operationalized in a more comprehensive doctrine.