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Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) Case Study
Technology Category
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Computing
- Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) - Cloud Storage Services
Applicable Industries
- Aerospace
- National Security & Defense
Applicable Functions
- Discrete Manufacturing
- Logistics & Transportation
Use Cases
- Cybersecurity
- Remote Asset Management
- Remote Collaboration
Services
- Cloud Planning, Design & Implementation Services
- Cybersecurity Services
The Challenge
The Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) was tasked with establishing a new combined air and space operations center (CAOC) to replace a temporary facility that had been in use for six years. The new CAOC needed to provide more robust systems to accommodate users and improve interoperability. It also had to make the best possible use of physical space and reduce power consumption. The transition from the old facility to the new one had to be seamless so as not to interrupt mission operations. The CAOC was controlling air operations in two live theaters at transition time. The project, from planning to implementation, was completed in less than two years. This desktop consolidation project presented other challenges for all parties because AFCENT’s mission requires 24x7 operations with 99.99% availability.
About The Customer
The Air Force Central Command (AFCENT) is responsible for supporting all air operations conducted in Southwest Asia and providing enhanced capabilities to the warfighters. In 2009, the 350th Electronic Systems Group (ESG) engaged in a project to establish a new combined air and space operations center, or CAOC. Prior to the new facility, U.S. and coalition forces utilized a “temporary” warehouse-like facility for six years.
The Solution
To accomplish this large scale effort, AFCENT selected Forcepoint™’s Trusted Thin Client® as the multilevel security component and technologies from Citrix®, NetApp®, and Avocent® to round out the solution. In order to recover needed work space, decrease power consumption, and modernize their computing environment and network infrastructure, AFCENT’s goal was to replace 95% of all desktop computers with thin clients. By implementing the Trusted Thin Client software, multiple desktop systems at each user’s workstation were replaced by a single Hewlett Packard™ (HP) thin client device. Users can now view multiple networks, even at different classification levels, from a single monitor. Today, 1,648 Trusted Thin Client seats have been deployed. There are multiple Distribution Consoles on the back end to support users, load balancing, and failover. The Trusted Thin Client deployment began by providing network separation for four classified networks and is now providing secure access to six different networks. Over 120 Command and Control (C2) applications are supported with this implementation.
Operational Impact
Quantitative Benefit
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