The Department of Defense is preparing to launch its confidential Microsoft 365 version this month. DOD365-Secret is planned to be installed on the highly secure networks of key Pentagon offices this month. This move shows a substantial advancement for the Department of Defense as it embraces cloud computing for classified information, consolidating tools for senior leaders and their support teams. The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has been rigorously testing DOD365-Secret since January, which is now ready for full-scale implementation across the 17 components of the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
In an interview with Federal News Network, Danielle Metz, the Chief Information Officer of OSD, said that emphasized the impact of this deployment. This integration will bring personnel to a unified platform, powered by Microsoft Teams’ advanced collaborative features. This will include seamless chat, video conferencing, and real-time document collaboration in a secure cloud-based environment, marking a significant technological leap for the defense sector.
Metz also explained the complexity of the existing network infrastructure and highlighted the role of cloud solutions in standardizing the digital experience across various OSD sub-offices. Furthermore, Metz aims to establish a robust governance structure and a community of practice to ease the transition to cloud services.
The ultimate goal is to enhance the efficiency of OSD’s operations through the systematic adoption of cloud technology. Metz also mentioned the importance of being in the same environment for joint collaboration, showcasing the potential of standardized business processes to inform technical processes and guide the migration of systems and workloads to targeted cloud environments within the OSD.