The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) is nearing the completion of a significant update to the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communication System (JWICS), aimed at improving the system’s resilience against outages, as stated by DIA Chief Information Officer Doug Cossa during a webinar this morning.
For the past two years, the DIA has focused on a „tech refresh” of JWICS, the Pentagon’s secure network designed to handle top-secret and sensitive compartmented information. Originally developed during the Gulf War, JWICS was essential for transmitting secure voice and video communications to the Pentagon.
“We are almost done with the tech refresh. We’re essentially there,” Cossa reported. „The key focus over the past two years has been on replacing the outdated infrastructure, especially at critical nodes.”
Cossa clarified that this “tech refresh” extends beyond merely updating devices like routers, switches, and encryption systems. It encompasses „everything that goes along with providing connectivity” and aims to enhance the resiliency of JWICS. The objective is to detect potential outages before they occur.
“It’s a mesh network to where, if one point goes down, you’ve got alternate routes, just like a highway system,” he explained. “You don’t want to just have one exit; multiple on-ramps and off-ramps are essential. That’s where we are on the tail end of completing.”
He also emphasized the transition towards software-defined networking, which would enable the identification of errors early. “In the past, when we faced networking problems, it was always a reactive process of figuring out what happened. Our goal is to move that inquiry to the front—before an outage occurs.”
The tech refresh represents just one aspect of JWICS modernization, which has been ongoing since 2021. Cossa mentioned that the DIA is also focusing on improving the system’s cybersecurity and automation capabilities. This involves leveraging artificial intelligence to detect errors before they escalate into significant issues, such as outages or data breaches by foreign hackers or insider threats.
“The goal over the next three years is to enhance the monitoring of network traffic and connectivity, automate management, and isolate parts of the network that aren’t operating as expected. That’s where AI plays a pivotal role,” Cossa said.
At the upcoming Department of Defense Intelligence Information System (DoDIIS) conference later this month, the DIA will seek industry solutions to transition JWICS from a manual to an automated system.
“That’s the vision for the next generation of JWICS architecture—removing human intervention in management and exploring smart automation solutions. This will continue to be a major priority in the coming years,” Cossa noted in response to inquiries about this year’s DoDIIS themes.
Consequently, attendees can expect extensive discussions on network automation and security at the conference, underscoring the DIA’s commitment to advancing the JWICS infrastructure.
