Modelling and simulation as a service and concept development and experimentation

Recent developments in computing and networking are making it possible for a customer to benefit from the products of computing without the full investment in hardware, software, personnel and infrastructure. This is the main idea behind cloud computing. In this case, hardware, software and expert personnel can be centrally located and the “services” they provide are accessed over the network. This leads to enhanced flexibility, better accessibility and scalability, and also to higher reliability in service provisioning from which both a service consumer and a service provider will benefit. Modelling and Simulation as a Service is a means of delivering value to customer via network cloud technology by enabling access to M&S applications, capabilities, and data without necessity of ownership. The service approach to Modelling and Simulation capabilities offers benefits like access to M&S services on demand, access to a broader set of applications and tools, sharing and pooling resources, models, data, best practices and other knowledge, which leads to more effective resources exploitation. The paper is based on NATO MSG-136 (“Modelling and Simulation (M&S) as a Service — “Rapid deployment of interoperable and credible simulation environments” group results. The paper, presenting some results achieved by the group, focuses on user's perspective of M&S as a Service (MSaaS), proposes more detailed classification of MSaaS stakeholders and considers some aspects of MSaaS support to Concept Development and Experimentation (CD&E) process on the national level.