U.S. Transcom looks to make cloud less risky

WHAT: U.S. Transcom seeks partners to evaluate cloud risks

WHY: The U.S. Transportation Command, one of nine unified commands that span across the military services, is responsible for the massive logistics work of moving personnel and materiel across the globe in support of Department of Defense operations. The command currently operates an array of mobility systems, some of which originated inside the individual services and predate the establishment of U.S. Transcom in 1987.

As a possible prelude to a modernization plan, U.S. Transcom is looking for partners in industry and academia to enter into Cooperative Research and Development Agreements to scope out the risks and rewards of moving off legacy systems and embracing cloud and virtualization.

Specifically, the command is looking for ideas on making the business cases for moving to the cloud, plans for secure and effective migration of legacy applications and data, design and architecture considerations, and methods for securing sensitive data and applications in cloud setting.

Participants will use the existing Global Air Transportation Execution System as "a baseline case for research on risks, preparations for and best practices in migrating an existing government system to a cloud-based environment."

The first step for respondents is to produce a white paper that answers some of the concerns and topics listed in U.S. Transcom's Nov. 16 request for information. The deadline to submit white papers is Dec. 23.

Click here to read the full RFI.