Solution Overview
Defense Data Center Networking:
Raise Security, Improve Continuity, Lower Costs
Challenge
Solution
Data centers in defense organizations are pressed to accommodate the
proliferation of applications, servers, and vast amounts of data generated
by users as they operate in an uncertain security environment. Data
floods these centers from Command, Control, Communications,
Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (C4ISR)
applications and email, as well as multimedia services such as voice and
video. More and more, data center administrators need to ensure high
levels of availability and security while managing cost.
Cisco defense-related solutions build on a broader vision of the network
as a platform. This approach yields a data center network architecture
that helps IT administrators regain control, secure data and IT assets, cut
costs, and optimize network performance and availability. Cisco data
center solutions manage multiple protocols and support both current
and emerging technologies, which protects IT investments in existing
assets and frees up resources to address other operational needs. Cisco
addresses the key concerns of defense network administrators with
solutions that improve security and operational resiliency, while reducing
IT costs:
The daily operational demands of defense organizations and their data
centers can interfere with longer-term planning, a problem that may
lead to reactionary rather than preventative approaches to security.
Responding reactively to an organization’s needs often results in
complex and heterogeneous architectures with isolated siloes of
functionality. This type of infrastructure is underutilized and complex to
maintain, with security fragmented and difficult to ensure.
The three main challenges in today’s defense data center are:
• Security: Protecting sensitive military data and information
from hostile intelligence agencies that probe data centers for
security weakness
• Continuity and disaster recovery: Protecting defense
organizations from manmade or natural disasters, such as an
earthquake or computer virus, that can happen without warning
• Increasing cost of ownership: Meeting user requirements for
server space to handle increasing data volume and data-intensive
applications, and more power consumption from faster CPUs, larger
memory chips, and smaller disk drives
• Secure defense data center: Because defense data centers are
attractive targets for espionage and cyber attacks, Cisco delivers
a network fabric that securely consolidates isolated environments
for each physical or virtual server, deploying in-depth security and
network fabric partitioning. Other security services include firewall,
intrusion protection, and distributed denial of service (DDoS)
protection services at the interactive services layer.
• Reliable operational resiliency: Defense data centers are attractive
military targets as well as sites that need precautionary measures
against natural calamities. Should an attack or natural disaster
occur, Cisco Data Center Networking provides resiliency. Cisco
Data Center Interconnect solutions connect multiple data centers
to provide highly reliable military operations and disaster recovery.
These solutions include low-cost FCIP and coarse and dense
wavelength-division multiplexing (CWDM and DWDM).
Solution Overview
• High cost-efficiency: Cisco Data Center Networking helps increase
the utilization of existing servers through virtualization technology.
Virtualization enables defense data center administrators to run
multiple virtual servers on a single physical server. Each virtual
machine contains a complete system, including CPU, memory,
operating system, and network devices, and is completely
compatible with all standard x86 operating systems, applications,
and device drivers. By enabling several operating systems
and applications to run at the same time on a single computer,
virtualization reduces space, power, and cooling requirements as
well as the capital cost of buying and upgrading servers over time.
The Cisco Data Center 3.0 technology portfolio includes the most
comprehensive range of networking products and solutions designed
specifically to help IT organizations transform their data center
infrastructures. Figure 1 shows the Cisco Data Center 3.0 Framework.
Innovative Global Government Solutions
Cisco supports governments and defense agencies around the world
by delivering innovative, integrated mission capabilities through thought
leadership, advanced technologies, and services. Cisco’s team includes
top experts from space, military, homeland security, public safety, and
the intelligence community from all levels of government around the
world. They not only understand the unique challenges of government,
but also bring years of personal experience to help you meet mission
requirements.
For More Information
Learn more about Cisco data center solutions for defense operations
and other global government solutions and services for defense at
www.cisco.com/go/defense.
Figure 1. Cisco Data Center 3.0 Framework
Applications
Commercial Applications
Internally Developed
Software as a Service (SaaS)
Composite Apps/SOA
Core Common Services
Unified Communications
Storage
Application Delivery
Security
Management
Virtualization
Transport
Aggregation
Service Modules
Catalyst 6500
Nexus 7000
Nexus 7000
Appliances
Server
Access
CBS 3100
Catalyst 49xx
Blade
Rack
Catalyst 6500
Row
Nexus 1000V
Server
Nexus 5000
Nexus 2000
Fabric Extender
Rack
Nexus 7000
Row
Physical Infrastructure
Critical Defense Applications
A secure data center empowers defense organizations with a network architecture that is flexible to support and align with its mission by:
•Regaining control over data and IT assets
•Consolidating servers that are used throughout the organization
and centralizing them in the data center
Americas Headquarters
Cisco Systems, Inc.
San Jose, CA
•Consolidating multiple applications onto fewer physical servers
•Introducing more effective networked storage solutions
•Optimizing the performance and availability of critical applications
Asia Pacific Headquarters
Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd.
Singapore
Europe Headquarters
Cisco Systems International BV
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on the Cisco Website at www.cisco.com/go/offices.
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C22-504982-00
05/09