THE JOINT STAFF
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20318-8000
JOINT REQUIREMENTS OVERSIGHT COUNCIL
JROCM 048-96
15 April 1996
MEMORANDUM FOR THE UNDER SECRETARY DEFENSE FOR ACQUISITION AND TECHNOLOGY
Subject: Validation of Defense Information System Network (DISN) Capstone Requirements Document (CRD)
The Joint Requirements Oversight Council reviewed and validated the DISN Capstone Requirements Document as the bridging document between the DISN Mission Need Statement (MNS) and any systems that will require DISN-connectivity to support the warfighter. The six critical system characteristics contained in the CRD are approved as submitted.
[SIGNATURE]
Joseph W. Ralston
Vice Chairman
Joint Chiefs of Staff
Chairman, JROC
Enclosure
CAPSTONE REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT (CRD) FOR THE
DEFENSE INFORMATION SYSTEMS NETWORK (DISN)
1. PURPOSE. This DISN Capstone Requirements Document (CRD) is the bridging document between the following:
a. The 14 February 1995 Joint Mission Need Statement (JMNS) for the Defense Information Systems Network (DISN), which was reviewed and validated by the Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC).
b. Any individual system or C4I specific Operational Requirement Documents (ORD) that will require DISN-connectivity to support the warfighter.
The CRD also responds to the requirements identified in the Defense Planning Guidance (DPG)(FY1997-2002), Joint Pub 6, and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) for the Warrior (C4IFTW). This CRD serves as the overarching baseline document to be used for the future development of the DISN infrastructure blocks ORDs.
The CRD does not supersede or modify existing policy which governs individual system acquisitions, specifically that which is found in DODD 5000/8000 series acquisition documents. It supplements these documents by defining certain relationships between the individual systems which are not addressed within these documents. It also recognizes that current policy, documentation, and descriptions do not map well to an umbrella infrastructure system such as the DISN.
2. C4I AND THE NATIONAL MILITARY STRATEGY. New national strategy envisions power projection by highly flexible, rapidly responsive, tailored force packages under Joint Task Force (JTF) or Combined Task Force (CTF) command. The US Armed Forces are structured to project power from the Continental United States (CONUS) bases, sanctuary locations, and in-theater locations to an area of conflict anywhere in the world. The basic rationale within defense planning has shifted from threat to capability and from liability to opportunity. The underlying C4I infrastructure is the warfighter's critical platform which provides the capabilities and opportunities for successful power projection. This CRD addresses those requirements that must be the primary focus of the strategy to be mapped out in the development, implementation, and evolution of the DISN.
3. THREAT. With recent changes throughout the world, large-scale destruction of physical communications assets has become a less significant threat to the US Armed Forces. However, information warfare (IW) against the United States, to include denial of service, unauthorized monitoring and disclosure of sensitive information, and unauthorized modification of network databases and services, has become a significant threat. IW has become more important because the US Armed Forces' information superiority plays a critical role in the success of US military operations. This dependence on C4I information superiority multiplies the effectiveness and capabilities of the military forces, but likewise makes us more vulnerable to offensive IW attacks. The military's combat effectiveness could be substantially eroded if its information systems or processes are successfully attacked by an adversary. Therefore, the DISN and its infrastructure blocks must be protected through defensive IW services which include, but are not limited to, intrusion detection, assessment of risk, and timely countermeasures.
Each C4I segment or application on the DISN need not be protected against all threats at every level of conflict. With the rapid maturity of information and commercial communication technologies world-wide, today's C4I capabilities will soon be available to our adversaries. The US C4I superiority could diminish with the rapid dissemination and deployment of commercial technologies, systems, and services. The DoD must develop a defense that allows the warfighter access to a protected, fully connected, core network that the warfighter can rely on for warfighting mission, while the larger world-wide network may not provide the same level of service. Mission requirements must be evaluated against the IW risk to determine trade-offs between key performance parameters (KPPs), critical system characteristics (CSCs), and resources available.
4. DISN OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT. In this new information threat environment, the warfighter requires a fully integrated, "fused, real-time, true representation of the Joint Battlespace" to achieve information dominance in the battlespace. Information dominance, a critical combat-multiplier, must result from the implementation of the DISN infrastructure. Battlespace operations are synchronized using voice, data, imagery, and video information at low, medium, and high data rates. The information is exchanged, and must be protected, at multiple levels of security via several modes--broadcast, netted, switched, and dedicated (point-to-point). Deployed commanders must also be able to exploit C4I capabilities within the battlespace. The operational environment, which includes current and planned telecommunications resources, the warfighter's supporting mission and functions, the user population receiving global services support, and other external factors such as technology, policies, and budgets, must be responsive to the needs of the deployed warfighter.
5. DISN FUNCTIONAL OVERVIEW. The JMNS defines DISN as the DoD's worldwide protected network that allows the warfighter to exchange information in a seamless, interoperable, and global battlespace. The warfighter who is "plugged in" to DISN can pull information to receive detailed, critical data when the data is required and can push local data to make it available to other levels of command.
5.1 DISN Objective. The objective of the DISN is to create a telecommunications utility that satisfies the JMNS and enables information sharing, systems consolidation, integrated services, and the technology dominance required by the warfighter. In order to support worldwide U.S. military operations across a broad spectrum of needs, including natural disaster relief and humanitarian assistance in peacetime, crisis intervention, regional conflict and strategic deterrence, defense and reconstitution, the integrated network must support multimedia requirements with sufficient bandwidth for high volume exchange of voice, data, imagery, and video transmission services to support all functional mission areas. Through these protected services, and value-added capabilities, DISN will enable the warfighter to achieve battlespace awareness.
5.2 DISN Infrastructure. The DISN infrastructure that supports the objective and requirements identified above will be divided into three major infrastructure blocks:
Only through seamless integration of these three blocks can the warfighter's requirements as expressed in the JMNS be met. DISN must bring services, hardware, information warfare protection, and software from a variety of sources into an integrated communications utility that links and interoperates with the three blocks. Each of the DISN infrastructure blocks is a "system of systems" that includes a communications transport segment, a network management segment, and interfaces that provide value-added services.
6. DISN CRITICAL SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS. It is understood that the specific KPPs will vary between CONUS and deployed elements due to variations in the global telecommunications infrastructure. Individual C4I applications will have unique interface requirements and may have different performance objectives in the fixed versus deployed environment. System performance objectives and minimum acceptable requirements must be developed from, and remain consistent with, the initial broad statements of operational capability needs and must effectively meet or exceed the performance standards of the legacy systems that migrate to the DISN. The CSCs must be subject to Operational Test and Evaluation. DISN-related ORDs must incorporate the following critical system characteristics, as a minimum, which map to areas identified in the JMNS (see Appendix A).
6.1 Global Coverage and Connectivity. Coverage and connectivity to provide worldwide access to the network. The operating forces require high-quality, specialized support anywhere in the world to any size or type of force. In addition, joint and combined task force operations require full horizontal and vertical communications support. Users must be provided access to voice, data, and video services without regard to geographical location (fixed, mobile, or deployed) or organizational placement. Modeling and simulation of high-capacity networks in joint-deployment scenarios should be used extensively. Small, light, and very reliable telecommunications and processing equipment, such as commercial mobile satellites services using low, medium, and high-earth orbiting satellites, must be available. To be cost effective, commercial telecommunications products must be adapted to support DoD requirements. These adaptations must include the military features such as surge capacity, security, priority services, reliability, and survivability.
6.2 Interoperability. Interoperability is required across all infrastructure blocks and within technology groups without regard to service or organizational affiliation. This includes connectivity among US entities, between supporting and deployed elements, between the DISN and the commercial infrastructure, and between the DISN and the communications infrastructure of allied nations. NATO and other allied forces must continue to have the same level, or better, of interoperability as experienced with the DCS. Interoperability includes the requirement to integrate satellite, airborne, afloat and terrestrial based (wire and wireless) transmission and switching systems (strategic and tactical). It must also provide seamless interfaces to commercial networks as required to support increased traffic during surge and contingency conditions. All DISN management activities must be guided by common standards and procedures for integrated management of network and systems resources.
6.3 Responsiveness To Provide Assured Service. Assured connectivity is the ability of the network to provide end-to-end service based upon mission requirements. This capability must allow the deployed warfighter to prioritize service to various mission elements, based upon DISN resources available. The DISN must be flexible and responsive so warfighters receive continuous C4I connectivity as they transition from the sustaining base to their deployed areas of operation. Once deployed, the network must be dynamic enough to handle rapid expansion of connectivity and bandwidth (dynamic reallocation) to support JTF/CTF operations.
6.4 Security. Security measures the ability of the DISN to process and protect the confidentiality and security of unclassified, classified, and compartmentalized data throughout the system at any level, and to ensure against unauthorized access to such data. The decision process to select and implement safeguards must balance the reduction of risk against the cost of protection. Using available information security techniques and tools, the network must support information transfer at all classification levels unclassified but sensitive to Top Secret Special Compartment Information, in accordance with governing security regulations. Security must also provide personal, physical, and electronic protection against unauthorized access to information. Each segment of the DISN must incorporate appropriate safeguards commensurate with the existing or projected threat, and as required by governing policies. Additionally, operational security and facilities protection must be instituted to enforce physical protection standards at DISN facilities and to ensure access to information is consistent with mission assignments and clearance levels. The DISN must provide a number of privacy and security features, including the separation of user traffic operating at different security levels or communities of interest, and protection of user data against threats from outside the network. These security capabilities must be provided through techniques such as access control procedures, link encryption, multi-level security, and end-to-end encryption.
6.5 Network Management. DISN must provide network management and control services via management centers. The management centers must be cost-effectively automated and have the capability to perform network management functions associated with fault detection, isolation and correction, performance monitoring, configuration management, security management, and accounting.
6.6 Technology Insertion. DISN must allow for the rapid insertion of new, commercially available technology and any key/critical leading-edge services. Any DISN service/system contracts must be structured to encourage the rapid insertion of new technology. The insertion of new technology must be coordinated across the DISN infrastructure blocks to ensure interoperability and the efficient delivery of services to the end user meets operational requirements.
The current telecommunication industry's continuous and fast-paced evolution is encouraging new demands while providing better performance at lower prices. Throughout the life of the DISN, satisfaction of emerging validated requirements in light of emerging technological opportunities and the assessment of their merits for inclusion into the DISN architecture and design must proceed on a continual basis. Unique regional differences and requirements in the different theaters must dictate when and how new DISN services can be introduced or enhanced. The timing will be based on the level of technology available in the region.
7. DISN PROGRAM STRUCTURE. To meet the JMNS requirement to provide global end-to-end interoperability, while ensuring total seamless integration among them, the DISN requires a tailored program structure and approval mechanism. To assure that the separate DISN infrastructure blocks are interoperable, an oversight process is needed to guide the development of appropriate functional, technical, and performance requirements documentation. The builders of the separate infrastructure blocks are key players in the process. This oversight process will support the life cycle management of DISN.
7.1 Organizational Relationships and Responsibilities. The Director, J-6, Joint Staff is responsible for the DISN operational architecture, network policy, and overall direction. The DISA has responsibility forproviding program management of the DISN and will be responsive to the validated operational requirements of the Joint Staff, CINCs, Services, and Defense agencies. DISA will define all overarching DISN documents needed to support program definition, technical standards, and management, in cooperation with the Services and Agencies. The Services and Agencies will develop system and/or C4I network specific ORDs that define DISN-connectivity requirements, in accordance with the appropriate governing acquisition documentation requirements.
7.2 Program Objective. The CRD forms the baseline for development of a joint operational architecture, with interoperability and interface, from the sustaining base to the deployed warfighter. The DISN concept includes developing a group of telecommunication contracts that allow DoD to craft information capabilities to best serve the warfighter. Services and Agencies will be able to use these contracts to obtain telecommunication engineering support for system design, integration of local and wide area networks, and all communication information support services required under C4IFTW. The contracts will also provide for long-haul transmission services from the sustaining base to the deployed JTF/CTF. Contracts for other value added services, to include video teleconferencing, will also be developed to meet the needs of the warfighter.
7.3 Program Process. Operational requirements will be processed IAW DoD directives and guidance. The JWCA will continue to provide a framework for analysis of C4I technologies and capabilities required by the warfighter. ORDs, that meet the threshold, will be processed through the JROC. The Joint Staff (J6I) will be the focal point for submission and tracking of ORDs for C4I requirements certification, to include interface control, as outlined in CJCSI 6212.01A, Compatibility, Interoperability, and Integration of Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Systems. Approval of interface control will be considered a Critical Item for certification and is required for any connectivity that crosses the boundaries of a single infrastructure block.
Interface Control Documents support the key DISN capability of providing transparent information transport and translation between and among DISN users at any level. The Services and Agencies must cooperate closely to develop and review the documentation needed to produce a seamless communications utility meeting all of the DISN functional objectives. Interface control issues will be worked expeditiously, at the lowest level possible, with DISA as an integral player. Issues that cannot be resolved will be forwarded to the Standards Coordinating Committee or Interoperability Improvement Panel of the Military Communications-Electronics Board IAW CJCSI 6212.01A. APPENDIX A
JMNS CRD CRITICAL SYSTEM
CHARACTERISTICS
Integrate intelligence with C4 systems Global Coverage and Connectivity Value-added transport capability Information anywhere, anytime, any mission Responsive, reliable Command Control Intelligence and support information Flexible in provisioning Faster provisioning Easily extended Real time information exchange Global
Scaleable Responsiveness to Provide Assured Rapid expansion Service Dynamic reallocation Wide area interface to local area network Continuous C4I connectivity Support afloat, airborne, ground Ease of extension Available Reliable Rapid establishment of connectivity Rapid restoral Operational responsiveness
Seamless transport capability Interoperability Surge Joint and Combined Interoperability Integrated connectivity Interface between strategic & tactical Provide long-haul and interface point End-to-end global interoperability Integrate satellite, airborne, terrestrial Centrally defined framework of architectures, standards, and procedures Technical coherence
Jam resistant Security Survivable Transport at all security levels
Integrated network and system management Network Management End-to-end visibility Rapid restoral Security management & control capabilities Path assurance Configuration management Global network & systems management Seamless connectivity Responsive to surge Security management and control
Modern Technology Insertion Accept technology insertion Accept value-added services Higher bandwidth Capable of easily accepting future technology Support exponential increase in bandwidth Planned technology insertion
thomas2r@ncr.disa.mil - Last Revision: 1 October 1996