Introduction

In this article, I would like to illustrate how one can apply architecture methods and modeling to address a real world and highly significant challenge confronting the U.S. Cyber Command (Source: GAO-21-68, DEFENSE ACQUISITIONS: Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Would Benefit from Defined Goals and Governance, November 2020).

Background

Although the primary element of the U.S. Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture (JCWA) concept is the interoperability and information sharing among its systems, Cyber Command has not defined JCWA interoperability goals. In addition, it lacks a governance structure for the two recently established offices to lay out defined roles and responsibilities for prioritizing JCWA program acquisition requirements. As a result, it risks delays in providing needed joint cyber warfare capabilities.  

 In early 2020, Cyber Command developed its Big Data Platform, among other tools,  to provide a computing solution that is capable of ingesting, storing, processing, sharing, and visualizing multiple petabytes of data from U.S. Department of Defense  (DODIN) sources. Three of the service cyber components—Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force*— haves their  own respective Big Data Platforms to ingest data from their own cyberspace missions. 

Joint Cyber Warfighting Architecture Conceptual Diagram. 

Furthermore, Cyber Command established its JCWA Integration Office to help address some of the challenges associated with defining and implementing the JCWA concept. This office will help develop guidance to integrate the individual JCWA programs into a more holistic, interoperable construct. In addition, Cyber Command officials stated that a new JCWA Capabilities Management Office will work with the JCWA Integration Office to identify and align requirements across JCWA systems based on Cyberspace Operations Forces’ needs.

* Service Cyber Components: • Army Cyber Command • Marine Corps Forces Cyberspace Command • Fleet Cyber Command/Tenth Fleet (Navy) • Sixteenth Air Force (Air Forces Cyber)

Applying Architecture to this Architecture Program

The above described challenges can be effectively addressed by applying leading architecture methods and models, the two main pillars of an architecture practice. I’m continually surprised that the GAO has not recommended Enterprise Architecture explicitly, as far as I can find, for at least 8 years. To move forward rapidly on the program described in this article, a combination of architecture frameworks and modeling standards can help tremendously and rapidly. I’ll just sketch this out at a high level with the following Mind Map, following by a snippet of an ArchiMate view:

Mind Map of Method to Frame the JCWA Architectural Challenge

ArchiMate Stakeholder View of JCWA Challenge