Integrating Information Systems into the Net-Centric Environment

We conduct business in a globally connected information age where sharing of information and capabilities are rapid. New information technologies continue to emerge that allow information sharing to be faster than ever before. As information system providers, we must utilize these technologies and standards to incorporate information assurance (IA) safeguards into our applications and systems. The Department of Defense (DoD) is also leveraging these technologies to lay the foundation for a net-centric environment within the global information grid (GIG) infrastructure to provide trusted data for users and applications. A central part of the net- centric environment is providing data to users when and where needed to enable effective decision making. Net-centricity has four key attributes: Reach, richness, agility, and assurance; the degree to which an application is measured for net-centricity is defined by these attributes. Measures must be taken to ensure the availability, integrity, authentication, confidentiality and non-repudiation of data within the net-centric environment. This paper will focus on the Assurance attribute by discussing processes and procedures an information system provider must use to ensure the security of the information it supplies and consumes. Emerging technologies that support the integration of Information Assurance in the processing, transport, storage, and sharing aspects of information across the DoD network boundaries were discussed.