As information systems have shifted from analog to digital and to Internet protocol, network operations (NetOps) increasingly has become the all-important central element of an evolving network-centric operations (NCO) ecosystem. Today, successful NetOps enables better decision-making, improved customer support and more effective business operations. It allows information access, sharing and collaboration among network users. But effective and efficient NetOps can be achieved only through a holistic management approach. Many organizations experience problems today by not addressing each of what I call the Five Pillars of Netcentricity.
The first pillar is communications infrastructure. In any complex network, enterprise architecture is essential for identifying the most effective hardware, software, applications, network services and transport elements needed for seamless global interoperability. Edge users demand ubiquitous access to information, which requires an integrated infrastructure based on the most globally interoperable network standards and protocols. NetOps forces an end-to-end view of the infrastructure and looks for second-order effects of outages and anomalies. Anything less rules out maximum operational effectiveness.
The second pillar comprises security, privacy and, on a grander scale, cybersecurity. As government, the economy and society become increasingly reliant on networked systems and the sharing of information, the greater the temptation for hackers, terrorists and other cybercriminals to threaten the Free World with weapons of mass disruption. In response, enterprise capabilities must include identity management, access control, data protection, document retention and security, risk and vulnerability management, and enterprise risk services. Only the right people should gain access to the information they need so they can use it for approved purposes.
The third pillar is information management. Information is the fuel that powers any organization, and it must be managed expertly to achieve maximum effectiveness for data integrity, information sharing, collaboration, enterprise resource planning and knowledge management. Information management also is a powerful tool for transforming an organization through change.
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