Cisco, DOD move JRSS to cloud tech and greater automation

Cisco Systems is working closely with the Pentagon on Joint Regional Security Stacks, or JRSS, to expedite the integration of increased computer automation, movement to the cloud and greater data security, industry officials said.

Such an effort, which includes moving to common standards architecture and stepping-up artificial intelligence algorithms to detect malware and intrusions, relies less on human intervention, said Carl De Groote, senior director for DOD at Cisco Systems.

“We create a common operating environment to collapse layers of old network architecture and deploy data across the DOD,” De Groote said.

De Groote also explained that the process uses multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) to increase interoperability between networks. He said this is engineered to operate both on premises at data centers and off premises in the cloud.

MPLS is designed to engineer shorter paths and greater efficiency between nodes on networks, making it easier to share information. The security of the network is centralized into regional architectures instead of locally distributed systems at each military base or post, according to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

“Deploying JRSS enables the department to inspect data, retrieve threat and malware data on the network and troubleshoot, patch, protect and defend the network,” a DISA statement said.

In some cases, computer automation can replicate human behavior in an effort to deceive and track cyber intruders; automation can give attackers the impression that they are tracking human activity when they are themselves being tracked.

Increased automation and AI are used to deploy advanced security tools to increase detection speed for anomalies. Cisco is working toward a government-required security level called Impact Level 5, or IL5.

 “DOD can identify attacks more quickly and share information in response faster. This gives cyber missions a predictable environment. The next step is end-point security and managing traffic,” he said.

Also, JRSS not only reduces the hardware footprint of systems but greatly enables improved visibility of data moving across networks, De Groote said.

“We are ready to help them in the spirit of the JIE (Joint Information Environment) to standardize and automate so they can reduce the overall complexity of delivering IT applications,” De Groote added.