Security Paramount for NGEN, CANES

By Richard R. Burgess, Managing Editor

Network security was named as the prime requirement for the Navy's next-generation shore-based and shipboard computer networks, Navy officials said May 4 at the 2009 Sea-Air-Space Exposition.

Rear Adm. Bill Goodwin, assistant chief of naval operations for Next Generation Enterprise Network (NGEN), and Robert Wolborsky, program manager for tactical networks, both stressed the importance of network security in the age of cyber warfare.

"We don't need unauthorized actors or people inside our networks," Goodwin said, citing Internet-based networks as the communications tool of choice for today's warfighter. "Awareness in that domain depends on quality of information in transmitting and receiving."

NGEN is intended to replace the terrestrial the Navy-Marine Corps Intranet (NMCI) , the Navy Department's main administrative shore-based information net. NMCI has more than 700,000 accounts and 300,000 terminals. NGEN is expected to handle an expected 3.4 terrabytes of data.

Under the Navy Network 2016 initiative, the Navy's vision includes expansion to include integrating its overseas and shipboard networks with its terrestrial network.

Wolborsky said the Navy's network goal is g a "seamless user experience between all of the network domains."

He said CANES -- the Consolidated Afloat Network Enterprise System, or the coming shipboard network program of record -- will be the "operational and tactical center of gravity on every ship."

Wolborsky said an aircraft carrier currently has 50 stand-alone networks, and the loss of a network for just one hour takes 24 hours of effort to recover. He said CANES brings a solution to the 50 networks.

The Navy released a request for proposals on April 2. Proposals are due on June 3. Demonstrations on June 16 and 17 will result in a down-select to two competitors for the system design and development phase of the program.