IA Workshop focus: ensure secure transmission

Army Communicator,  Winter, 2003  by Armando Monroig

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The Information Assurance Workshop was held Dec. 2 at the 73rd Ordinance Battalion conference room as part of Signal Regimental Symposium week activities.

The workshop set the stage to discuss information assurance in today's military.

"The name itself kind of implies what it means," said Randal McNeil, chief of Information Assurance Division at the U.S. Army School of Information Technology. "Assuring that your information is there."

McNeil said this includes cryptography, network security and technology and policies that the Army and Department of Defense are implementing.

He said it is all about security of information.

McNeil said anyone who has an interest in Signal or communications was present at the IA workshop, adding that IA is an integral part of most jobs in today's work force, especially the military.

"People wouldn't know how to do their jobs anymore without e-mail or Internet," said McNeil.

He explained it is imperative the military's information be protected and kept secure so the wrong people won't be able to access it. The goal is to keep the wrong people from getting into, attacking or destroying information that is critical to departmental security.

McNeil said IA is a worldwide issue and that all services are involved. He said the National Security Agency is also involved with this issue and had representatives in attendance, discussing wireless security.

"One of the reasons we did this was to keep attention on it (IA issue)," said McNeil. "IA right now is one of the most critical issues in networking and communications everywhere. We can't function without it anymore."

He cited the recent power grid blackout in the Northeast as an example of the dependence on technology and networking in order to function on a day-to-day basis.

"It's a hot topic right now," he said.

McNeil said his division trains Department of the Army personnel as well as the other branches of the military and federal agencies. The main offices are located here. He said they have 11 mirror sites throughout the world in places like Germany, Korea and Hawaii.

Among the speakers was BG Janet A. Hicks, U.S. Army Signal Center and Fort Gordon commanding general, who took time to visit the workshop.

Hicks spoke of how all branches of the military need to work together as a team, to ensure information assurance is addressed.

She said it is imperative we have a network which is big enough, dependable enough and impenetrable.

"This network will enable combat system support on the battlefield, be self-healing, self configuring," said Hicks. "We want this network to be able to do SIPRNET (Secure Internet Protocol Router Network), NIPRNET (Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router) and things like that in the battlefield."

She said everyplace we go we need that network, whether it is at a fort in the United States or in the Middle East, and we need that network to securely deliver information.

"Now, I'm not sure we can reach this," she said. "I hope you think we can. But if that's not our goal, then we will never be impenetrable."

"IA is a booming industry," she said. "It is a mandate, a compelling need."

One of the speakers at the workshop was COL Jean Tyler, director of the Defense-wide Information Assurance program at the office of the Secretary of Defense, who discussed the program and what it does to those in attendance.

"We are beginning to see some synergy in the Department of Defense and really bring about IA as a functional combat multiplier," said Tyler.

He said it is an integral part of the military and its functionality.

Tyler explained it is a work-in-progress; a constant journey working toward insuring that things are being done correctly as far as IA is concerned.

He said the IA race is being won but there are many hurdles ahead.

"We stopped the F22 fighter program in its tracks because it wasn't IA compliant," said Tyler.

Tyler said he had the authority over the weapons system through congressional mandate. He explained that the program was halted until it became IA compliant.

"One of the biggest problems we have in the bigger IT arena: the difference between weapons systems and IT systems," said Tyler. "We will never get through this centricity if we can't solve that problem."

Tyler explained that IT and weapons systems are one in the same.

He said one of the biggest variables in the IA issue is that technology is changing rapidly and is very difficult to keep up with.

"We're buying old stuff," he said. "We need to get ahead of that curve and get that technology into our stream quicker."

Another one of the hurdles that must be overcome is policy, said Tyler.

"DoD policy takes a minimum of 24 months (for approval)," he explained. "There's 10,000 people in D.C. (District of Columbia) who can say no."