DISA's milDrive delivers personal cloud storage

Defense Department users can now get Dropbox-like storage and file sharing services for unclassified data from their laptops and mobile devices.

The Defense Information Systems Agency's milDrive gives users with a Common Access Card or Personal Identity Verification card the ability to tap into cloud-based storage, file sharing and syncing services from any Android and iOS mobile device. It also provides access to data via a web browser, mobile device or desktop app, DISA said.

“milDrive is a personal file storage service,” DISA's Cloud Storage Manager Carissa Landymore said. “It really ensures warfighters have continuous, reliable access to files without regard to device or location.”

DISA stores milDrive’s user data in two of its secure data center facilities replicating data between the sites to ensure it remains available. The service also lets users work with files and folders even if their access has been interrupted,  automatically synchronizing the data when users regain access. With its collaboration features users can send files to, and authorize access for, other authenticated users --  even if they do not have a milDrive user license, DISA said.

Additional milDrive benefits include reduced IT administrative costs and email server space, optimized network bandwidth usage and full data protection and self-recovery of files.

The service, which launched March 1, offers two levels of storage -- 20 gigabytes for individuals or 1 terabyte for teams.

“DISA is continuing to keep pace with industry as far as enabling users to maintain, utilize, and access data through a cloud environment,” Landymore said. “We’re making the end user more productive by giving them more ways to access their files.”