Dynamic policy enablement and management in net-centric warfare systems and communications

The development of the concepts for the global information grid and for Net-Centric Warfare systems identify the need for more dynamic and configurable means to enable and control authenticity, access, privileges, interconnections not only in the networked environment, but also in the mission environment. Policy-based mechanisms have been identified as the primary means to achieve this flexibility. This paper examines what "policy" is, what operational benefits can be achieved by utilizing policy-based mechanisms, and how policy can be utilized to control the following in a coherent and integrated manner: communications, networking, security, data and services, workstations, mission subsystems, and entire mission systems. Special emphasis will be given in the paper to communications, networking, security, data and services. The paper also examines the "policy management infrastructure" that is needed to manage the lifecycle of policies throughout the entire system and its communications and networks.