Air Force Taps Big Blue for Cloud Project
Cloud computing is all the rave right now, giving governments and enterprises a faster, cheaper and more efficient way to collect, analyze and share large pools of data. Datamation examines how IBM's latest contract with the U.S. Air Force will test the developers' ability to design a cloud-based network with the highest level of security.M
IBM on Thursday announced it was awarded a contract to design a secure cloud-computing infrastructure for the U.S. Air Force.
The 10-month project will challenge IBM (NYSE: IBM) to introduce advanced cyber security and analytics technologies in the cloud that can support high-level defense and intelligence networks.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
If it succeeds, the implementation will provide IBM with an ideal case study to present to private sector companies that want to transition away from on-site applications but are still leery of the security risks associated with cloud computing.
IBM will be required to meet security standards established by the government's Information Assurance guidelines for all networks. The Air Force says its network manages the operations of nine major commands, almost 100 bases and 700,000 active military personnel worldwide.