DARPA looks to the cloud

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency recently released a solicitation to the private sector regarding how to best utilize cloud computing, MSNBC reports.

The Department of Defense's research branch hopes to implement a cloud solution within three-to-five years, "which would put the Department of Defense a mere five to 10 years behind private industry," said MSNBC's Stuart Fox.

According to Fox, a move to the cloud for the military will prove beneficial, especially to distribute portable computers to infantry soldiers. Current equipment has been deemed too fragile and heavy in the field.

"However, with all the processing power and memory sequestered in the cloud, a soldier would only need a light and durable smartphone-like device to receive complex information about the battlefield," said Fox.

The cloud is expected to be a chief technology moving forward. In fact, according to a Network World report, Cisco's chief technologist for its Internet Business Solutions Group, Dave Evans, said cloud computing is one of 10 technologies that will help shape the next decade, while Cisco predicts that one-third of all data will be stored in the cloud by 2020.