In the future, Large Scale Combat Operations will require convergence from multi-national, joint, and Theater Army-level down to the brigade-level. The Army has a need to transform its multidomain operations to fit into this transition.

In the future, Large Scale Combat Operations will require convergence from multi-national, joint, and Theater Army-level down to the brigade-level. The Army has a need to transform its multidomain operations to fit into this transition.

The United States faces strategic challenges in the security environment as the emerging global balance of military capabilities rapidly changes. The DoD must deter those strategic attacks against the United States, its allies, and partners while simultaneously being prepared to fight in every domain. Exploitation of critical command and control networks is of high value to our adversaries; however, one of most effective defensive tools we use to protect those systems are our cryptographic technologies. It is imperative for all of us to maintain and report mandatory software updates. Here’s why:

Security Enhancements. In the security environment, anti-access and denial are critical for large-scale combat operations. As the 2022 Department of Defense Software Modernization Strategy asserts, “From business systems to weapons systems, software defines our military capabilities, enabling us to detect and track adversaries, protect operations from cyber threats, and improve the accuracy and effectiveness of decisions and actions.” Software updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities discovered in the software. By maintaining pace with software upgrades, you significantly reduce your vulnerability.

Software Compliancy. Software compliancy and modernization is not a final activity, but a continuous one. The 2022 Department of Defense Software Modernization Strategy directs a transformative process to evolve policy, regulations, and standards that reinforces warfighting dominance. Industries are required to adhere to strict regulatory guidance that mandate software upgrades, which we also must adhere to.

Software upgrades will continue to evolve and improve secure communications of your devices. This starts with maintaining and reporting software compliancy at the lowest organization level. Software compliancy postures the DoD to fight and win, but it requires immediate action to update and report compliancy through the Maintenance Management Information System. Non-compliance places an organization at risk for legal action and worse, such as exploitation by an adversary.

Mission Readiness. Beyond security, software updates directly affect mission readiness. They also enhance the overall performance and functionality of your device while preventing degradation and mitigating technical issues. The National Security Agency’s Center for Cyber Security Standards prioritizes standards that support developing cryptographic algorithms to protect future environments from emerging threats, such as quantum computing. As they do so, you must plan, forecast, and complete your software upgrades frequently to remain relevant and ready to fight.

The Communications Security Logistics Activity is a Weapons System Directorate located at Fort Huachuca, AZ, under the Communications-Electronics Command’s Integrated Logistics Support Center at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD. CSLA’s mission is to provide the Armed Forces with comprehensive logistics and operational support for communications security equipment, cryptographic key, and related technologies to safeguard national security.

CSLA is responsible for the acquisition, distribution, and logistics support to all Army users of COMSEC equipment, cryptographic keying material, and other encryption products. CSLA serves as one of the two DoD COMSEC Central Offices of Record, supporting COMSEC accounts for the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and select civil agencies.

To obtain COMSEC products, Army Customers shall request Classified and Unclassified Controlled Cryptographic Items (CCI) through CSLA via the ISSPA (AR 25-2/710-4):

Website: https://issp.army.mil

Customer Support Email: usarmy.huachuca.cecom.mbx.ilsc-csla-issp@army.mil

To report mandatory software compliancy via the Maintenance Management Information System (MMIS):

Website: https://apps.ldac.army.mil/mmis/landing-page

CSLA customer support: usarmy.huachuca.cecom.mbx.ilsc-csla-csc@army.mil