Photo By michelle gigante | U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class William Cronin, information system technician in...... read more read more
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. — Telework — Here and globally, the concept has gained attention in a world faced with the COVID-19 pandemic.
To meet U.S. Transportation Command’s need to accelerate telework capability, the Cyberspace Operations Center in the USTRANSCOM Command, Control, Communications and Cyber Systems Directorate (TCJ6) is distributing laptops for official telework to continue global mission operations while protecting personnel health during this pandemic.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience as we look to deploy as many telework capabilities as we can,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Ivan Herwick, USTRANSCOM Defensive Cyber Operations and Department of Defense Information Networks Operations division chief. "We are surging to provide laptops, while also expanding and improving our IT infrastructure to meet the demands of a teleworking force."
To ensure USTRANSCOM could stay on target to meet its ongoing mission, Rob Brisson, the command’s information technology portfolio manager, expedited approval to purchase 1,900 laptops for official telework use.
"In mid-March, Maj. Gen. Kotulich, USTRANSCOM chief of staff, authorized command directorates here to maximize telework in response to COVID-19," said Brisson. "This drove an immediate requirement to provide teleworking capabilities for our members so we could keep the Joint Deployment and Distribution Enterprise running while protecting the force."
In order to continue seamless operations for the mobile workforce on Non-classified Internet Protocol Router networks and Secret Internet Protocol Router networks, TCJ6 teamed up with the Defense Information Systems Agency to position collaborative communication services.
With the rapid increase of additional telework users, video and web conference services such as DISA’s Defense Collaboration Services, Global Video Services, and Skype were embraced by senior leadership and the mobile workforce.
“While DISA’s DCS and GVS were both deployed for use before the pandemic, the number of users dramatically surged up to 10 times pre-pandemic usage, creating capacity issues that were rapidly addressed,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Robert Bonner, DISA Transportation Field Office commander.
DCS provides secure web conferencing and instant messaging services, which can be extended to users working from their personal computers and mobility devices.
GVS provides video services that allow command members to physically see each other while speaking, share screens, and text-chat to create a virtual meeting capability.
Skype for business is available for users connecting through the Virtual Private Network as when on-site at users’ desks. The difference is TCJ6 is expanding services to add a document-share and video-conferencing capability.
“The suite of communication tools that team TCJ6 and DISA have provided the workforce has been instrumental in the continuation of USTRANSCOM global operations,” said Brisson.
Maintaining security remains a priority as the large number of command teleworkers brings an increased risk of malicious cyber activity. TCJ6 advises personnel to only use authorized tools and equipment for official work to help avoid pandemic-themed scams and malware.
More information on teleworking can be found at the following link: https://www.telework.gov/
USTRANSCOM exists as a warfighting combatant command to project and sustain military power at a time and place of the nation’s choosing. Powered by dedicated men and women, we underwrite the lethality of the Joint Force, we advance American interests around the globe, and we provide our nation's leaders with strategic flexibility to select from multiple options, while creating multiple dilemmas for our adversaries.
| Date Taken: | 04.20.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 04.21.2020 10:49 |
| Story ID: | 367887 |
| Location: | IL, US |
| Web Views: | 29 |
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