Using a Zero Trust, Cloud-Based Tactical Network to Protect our Tactical Edge

For those responsible for collecting and disseminating intelligence, the ability to securely connect to the internet from literally anywhere can be a matter of life and death; the difference between a successful mission and one that fails; or the difference between accurate intelligence delivered in time or too late.

In response to these needs, the Department of Defense (DoD) created the concept of the tactical cloud edge and tactical compute nodes. The tactical cloud edge is typically hosted in-theater, such as at a regional hub node or on a vessel close to the warfighter, to bring the cloud physically within reach. In addition, tactical compute nodes are easily transported inside smaller vehicles and provide localized computing and storage that syncs with the tactical cloud edge, when it is available.