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DOD witnesses stress Zero Trust, ICAM and cloud modernization as central to cybersecurity and data sharing
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Summary
Acting DOD Chief Information Officer and the CDAO told the House committee the department is implementing Zero Trust, identity credential access management (ICAM), CMMC and unified cloud acquisition to strengthen cybersecurity, protect the defense industrial base and enable data sharing across services and partners.
Ms. Harrington, acting chief information officer at the Department of Defense, told the House Armed Services subcommittee the department is prioritizing Zero Trust architecture, identity credential access management (ICAM) and consolidation of cloud and business systems to improve security and interoperability.
Nut graf: Witnesses said Zero Trust, ICAM federation and cloud modernization are being advanced to protect sensitive data, accelerate secure software delivery and enable cross-component access — with component implementation plans aiming for target Zero Trust posture by fiscal 2027.
Harrington said components have implementation plans that target Zero Trust by FY27 and pointed to efforts that demonstrate progress: "The success of Flank Speed, Thunderdome, and Fort 0 in achieving target or advanced CT demonstrates the viability of our approach," she said. She described DISA’s Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network federation work and the DOD CIO’s ICAM Federation Framework as key drivers for enterprise adoption.
Harrington said the department is streamlining software procurement by using a buyers’ digital catalog to limit unnecessary customization and harmonize capability across components. "If it is not already in the digital catalog, each and any CIO then has to come through my office to get approval to customize capability," she said.
On defense industrial base cybersecurity, Harrington reiterated implementation of the CMMC program and noted the department is moving toward AI-powered continuous monitoring and faster software security delivery through a Software Fast Track initiative.
The witnesses described cloud modernization priorities. Harrington said the follow-on core cloud contract should expand small-business opportunities, offer software-as-a-service options, and leverage the department’s full buying power to reduce sprawl and improve rates. "We wanna make sure that everybody has an opportunity to be on this," she said.
The witnesses also emphasized identity federation as critical to cross-agency data sharing and to improve transitions from military service to Veterans Affairs. Harrington and Ms. Arrington said standardized data labeling and ICAM federation are necessary steps to ensure records and credentials move with service members.
