The Obsolescence of DMS in an Information Centric World
Abstract
The current organizational messaging capability within the Department of Defense (DoD) is an old technology that operates on a system-centric paradigm. This system-centric methodology for transmitting organizational messages is obsolete in the information-centric world in which we live. The importance of the information should determine what requirements are levied against it, instead of the system imposing the requirements on the information. To modernize organizational messaging, it must shift from a system-centric paradigm to an information-centric paradigm. Moreover, messaging in an information-centric paradigm is cheaper to maintain, more flexible, and easier to modify compared to messaging in a system-centric paradigm. In today's world, messaging is about the information, not the system. In part, the difficulty of eliminating DMS lies with the current requirements. The requirements are spelled out in the Multicommand Required Operational Capability (MROC) 3-88 for the Defense Message System, 1 October 1997, with Change 2. The original requirements were written in 1988 and validated by the Joint Staff in February 1989 without much change since then. They are as follows: Connectivity/Interoperability, Message Delivery, Timely Delivery, Confidentiality/Security, Sender Authentication, Integrity, Availability/Reliability, Training, Identification of Recipients, Message Preparation Support, Storage and Retrieval Support, and Distribution Determination and Delivery. Advances in networking and technology have badly dated some of these requirements while others are not being met or are met with caveats. Reviewing the requirements briefly will help better describe what next-generation organizational messaging needs may be.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 13, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA560215
Entities
People
- Edward C. Prem
Organizations
- United States Army War College