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U.S. Army Cloud Plan

Provided by U.S. Army Chief Information OfficerFriday, October 9, 2020

What is it?

The Army Cloud Plan outlines the Army’s vision for how it intends to use the cloud to ensure Army warfighting forces are stronger, better armed, and more skilled than their adversaries in the use of information technology on the Information Age battlefield.

The plan outlines the strategic objectives and roadmap that will bring about the Army Cloud vision. Under this plan, the Army will implement a multi-cloud, multi-vendor strategy, taking advantage of the latest commercial cloud services with built-in security.

What are the current and past efforts of the Army?

Developed by the Army’s Enterprise Cloud Management Office (ECMO), the Army Cloud Plan is part of the Army’s Data and Cloud modernization effort. This plan:

  • Replaces the Army’s 2015 Cloud Strategy.
  • Establishes cARMY, an authorized and accredited general purpose cloud environment. Many Army apps and data systems have been moved into cARMY.
  • Allows the Army to take full advantage of advances in digital warfare, autonomous robotics, and artificial intelligence to maintain digital overmatch against near-peer adversaries and non-state actors.
  • Provides Army the ability to securely deploy computing resources on-demand to networked users around the globe and will shorten IT system acquisition times from years to days.

What continued efforts does the Army have planned?

The Army will continue to update and improve the Army Cloud Plan as it gains experience using the cloud. Other continued efforts in the cloud plan include:

  • Delivering common shared services, including cybersecurity services, to enable Army customers to operate in the cARMY cloud environment, operationalize their data, and take full advantage of cloud computing.
  • Developing and executing a talent management plan to ensure the workforce is equipped with the necessary data science, software development and cloud design skills.

Why is this important to the Army?

The Army Cloud Plan sets the stage for the rise of a more data-centric Army in which leaders wield data as a strategic asset to drive technology and decision-making at the speed of war. This plan will help to establish a resilient and secure cloud solution as stated in the 2019 Army Data Plan.

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Events

October 2020

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Oct. 13-16: AUSA Annual Meeting | AUSA Now: 2020 Annual Meeting and Exposition Schedule

Focus Quote for the Day

The Army cannot maximize its modernization strategy without the cloud, which is the backbone for artificial intelligence.

— Secretary of the Army Ryan D. McCarthy

The Army Cloud Plan 2020