Case Studies: Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA)

The Client

DISA (Defense Information Systems Agency) is a DoD (Department of Defense) Agency that is responsible for planning, engineering, acquiring, fielding, and supporting global net-centric solutions to serve the needs of the President, Vice President, the Secretary of Defense, on down to the common soldier, as well as other DoD Components—under all conditions of war and peace. Some of the missions that DISA performs are designated as 'core missions' because they perform highly integrated war fighting capabilities. Some of the designated core missions of DISA are communications, joint command and control, defensive information operations, combat support computing, and joint interoperability support.

The Challenge

Quotient, Inc., is directly supporting two highly critical functions for DISA.

The first mission that Quotient, Inc. supports is the NIPRNet. The NIPRNet is the DoD Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network. It provides seamless interoperability for unclassified combat support applications as well as controlled access to the Internet through circuits. Quotient, Inc., supports the NIPRNet Program Office through the System/Network Approval Process (SNAP). The SNAP Office maintains a series of functions that is evolving into a "One-Stop-Shop" for Unclassified Information Assurance and data collection throughout the DoD community, that will eventually be the front-end collection tool for multiple DoD services and databases.

Another mission Quotient, Inc. supports is the DoD Ports, Protocols, and Services Management (PPSM). This mission is responsible for consolidating a list of required Automated Information Systems (AIS), including the protocols and/or ports they utilize, as well as operational and technical necessity of the AIS. This information is uploaded into the DISA maintained, DoD PPSM Registration System. This information goes through rigorous scrutiny and is validated through several Panels and Working Groups for appropriate security classification and is either accepted or rejected for use on DoD networks. Once this information is approved at the Joint Staff level, the information is published as a standard for the DoD community to follow.

Quotient, Inc. is a very dynamic and energetic resource to both of these DoD missions. Both missions described above field a customer base of over 400,000 DoD personnel and multiple cross-computing systems throughout the entire DoD community. Quotient, Inc. has established and maintains a standard of excellence for personnel attached to these critical missions. A partial list of functions that Quotient, Inc. performs are listed below:

• Handle everything from simple questions about SNAP/PPSM Database functionality to addressing complex and critical technical problems related to Information Assurance.
• Resolve customer questions/requests within 24 hours to minimize disruption to the customer's mission and provide guidance on mitigating the risk of potential security breaches.
• Provide weekly reports to DoD Components and compile requested ad hoc reports to the Joint Staff and the Office of the Secretary of Defense.
• Operate within the developed framework for providing cost effective support to meet customer expectations while increasing organizational effectiveness.
• Continuously research DoD Policies to empower the customer.
• Research technical and IA tasks for all Panels and Working Groups.
• Provide Secretariat Roles and Responsibilities to Panels and Working Groups.
• Maintain integrity of data by working with the owner/user to ensure the data remains current.
• Adjudication and Accreditation for circuits attached to the NIPRNet.
• Provide design input and develop processes for implementation of new projects.
• Assist in design, testing, and implementation of applications for the DoD community to collect. Track, and report IA data.