USSOCOM pursues a hybrid cloud strategy to provide users with a choice of commercial clouds, avoid parallel computing skill sets, enhance computing in austere environments, and obtain quicker value from capital expenditures while offering a robust training program.
The U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is pursuing a hybrid cloud strategy, which combines robust cloud capability with powerful disconnected edge computing. This approach enables users to consume cloud services through organized contracts instead of using shadow IT. USSOCOM’s chief technical officer, Mark Taylor, is working to provide the command’s activities with a choice of commercial clouds, as using just one vendor is unrealistic. This approach offers at least three benefits, including avoiding the need for parallel but different computing skill sets, enhancing the ability to deliver effective computing to austere environments, and quicker value from any capital expenditures USSOCOM makes. USSOCOM’s culture of pushing the envelope to provide interesting things requires a robust training program that provides opportunities for people who may not be in a position for very long.
