Challenges in Testing Tactical Cloud

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Yeshwanta Hebalkar

India Testing Week 2013

Challenges in Testing Tactical Cloud

14th Dec Hyderabad

www.unicomlearning.com

www.nextgentesting.org

http://www.unicomlearning.com/



Agenda

• Overview of Cloud Computing

• Cloud Delivery & Deployment Models

• Benefits of Cloud Computing

• Testing Cloud or Cloud Testing

• What is Tactical Cloud?

• Benefits of Tactical Cloud

• Tactical Cloud - Usecase Scenario

• Tactical Cloud Computing and Indian Military

• DPP ‘Make’ Procedure Design & Development

• Challenges in Testing Tactical Cloud

• Conclusion




National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) defines cloud computing as “A model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources such as networks, servers, storage, applications and services that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction.”

Essential Characteristics • On-demand self-service

• Ubiquitous network access • Location independent resource pooling • Rapid elasticity • Measured service

Cloud Computing Overview


Infrastructure As A Service (IaaS)

Platform As A Service (PaaS)



Cloud Delivery Models

Computing Storage Network

Database

Microsoft

.net Java

Objects

Mobile Laptop Tablet Server

Desktop

Software As A Service (SaaS)

Monitor Content Communicate Collaboration


http://www.google.co.in/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=qVuBmiybNr0z5M&tbnid=XXXnx7SbXW5SRM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.healthcare-informatics.com/blogs/mark-hagland/reaching-across-hospital-physician-office-divide-it&ei=3Z-gUvWYKYePrQf0iIHQBw&bvm=bv.57155469,d.aGc&psig=AFQjCNEsR8GwjwIUOWPx4GXX0fRqxio-tQ&ust=1386344699492796

Organization



Cloud Deployment Models

Internet

Public Cloud

Organization

Internet

Organization

Private Cloud

Private Cloud

Internet

Public Cloud

Public Cloud Private Cloud

Hybrid Cloud

Organization

Private Cloud

Internet

Public Cloud

Hybrid Cloud Multi Hybrid Clouds in a community




Benefits of Cloud Computing

Expected benefits

• Better utilization of computing resources leading to cost savings due to consolidation of operations and maintenance • Pooling of IT expertise for efficient and effective use of technical human resource leading to improved IT service • Improved service reliability and availability from hardware, network redundancy and data backup • Ability to provide service as pay while use rather than fixed capital cost with higher overhead • Improved overall service performance and response time from flexible, on demand sharing of resources • Improved economies of scale

Cost Reduction

Pooling of Resources

Improved Performance

Service Reliability

Lesser Overhead

Improved Economies

of Scale




Testing Cloud Or Cloud Testing

Testing Cloud •Intended to test applications deployed on the cloud • Functional validation • Apps to be validated for performance and security deployed on the cloud • Checking app getting established on cloud infrastructure

Cloud Testing •Intended to deliver service to the customer over the network • Cloud Testing intended as Testing As A Service(TaaS) over the cloud • Leveraging infrastructure on the cloud and validating the app




What is Tactical Cloud?

• Term tactical refers to the military domain •Tactical cloud computing has been defined as “the use of cloud computing technology and techniques for the support of localized and short-lived information access and processing requirements” • Cloud computing in a military tactical environment, supporting series of tasks and/or engagements in real-time within a tight Observe, Orient, Decide, and Act (OODA) loop • Tactical computing – Refers to processing of data from various sensors deployed in land, air or sea • Tactical computing includes shared situational awareness among geographically dispersed forces in a digitally connected battlefield •The network centric warfare (NCW) needs globally distributed system of systems that allows edge entities who are conducting military missions to retrieve the information from ubiquitous sources anytime and anywhere


www.nextgentesting.org Tactical Cloud Computing

Tactical Data

Information Grid

Weapon

Platform Command &

Control Logistics

Fighting

Forces Sensor Intelligence Personnel

– Net-Centricity – Decentralized Control – Enterprise Services – Shared Data – Web 2.0

Net-Centric Solution

War-fighter

– Stove-Piped Information – Centralized Control – Unique Software Solutions – Data Not Shared – Inefficiency

Challenges with present solution


• Cloud computing is based on SOA and web services

technologies Grid computing – Sensor grid,

Information grid Virtualization

Tactical Cloud Computing • Tactical battlefield environment pose a more difficult problem requiring special consideration

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www.nextgentesting.org Benefits of Tactical Cloud Computing Mission Effectiveness of the tactical cloud computing The most critical aspect is the effectiveness of the cloud computing which is the single most driver for tactical cloud in military mission. • Improved net-centric capability leading to better planning in terms of operational and strategic levels of military hierarchy • By mobilizing cloud computing resources to capture real time intelligence from battlefield or in case of asymmetric warfare leading to provide superiority in the war fighting chances • More likely to synchronize command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (C4ISR) in the event of attack • Improved interoperability between joint forces in case of joint missions spanning across various groups within armed forces, state police departments, home ministry department, para-military forces

Better Planning

Information Superiority

C4ISR Synchronization

Interoperability

Mission Effectiveness




Usecase Scenario – Tactical Cloud Consider a situation in which Indian Navy’s coast guard unit deployed in the Arabian sea which is addressing range of coastal security issues

such as smuggling, weapons trafficking, piracy and terrorism. Officer detects cargo ship whose historical data does not match on detection

Coast guard ship having an onboard helicopter, guided missile facility onboard

Helicopter & ship equipped with Computing resources + dedicated sensors and weapon system + additional data processing and storage resources capable of high performance computing required for advanced image processing

Facilitates sensor fusion and intelligence gathering as well as high bandwidth communication systems to access shore based information systems

The high performance computing resources on the helicopter and the ship pooled together to support a private tactical cloud computing environment for coast guard surveillance




: Tactical

Cloud :Coastal

Cloud

getSensorData()

responseData()

getShipInfo(id:Track-ID) getShipInfo(id:TC-ID)

ShipData( ) ShipData( )

vessel(ID:TrkID, m:AlertInfo) vessel(ID:AI TrkID, m:AI AlertInfo)

Tactical Cloud Computing – Coastal Surveillance Sequence Diagram

:Officer

Usecase Scenario – Tactical Cloud




The Officer onboard the helicopter utilizes additional resources available in the sensor network and informs Tactical Cloud to determine further data about the cargo ship. 1. The officer initiates a set of requests to local Tactical cloud which in turn automatically

triggers request to the coastal cloud on the shore

2. Response to those requests to lead the Officer to discover that cargo ship does not match its historical data

3. The cargo ship has been classified as a new vessel of interest. The Officer alerts the Tactical Cloud to track the cargo ship

4. The vessel contact report is also pushed into intelligence and coastal domain clouds as per naval commander’s policies of Indian Navy

5. The Officer as part of his duty alerts to the appropriate authorities via SaaS of the coastal cloud to watch for the cargo ship and notify other relevant authorities prior to arrival to the port

6. The Officer continues to coordinate the tracking of vessel of interest until relieved by higher authorities

Usecase Description




Tactical Communication System (TCS) Modernization of Indian Army

Total order value approx USD 2 Bn

Two Developing Agencies (DAs), namely Bharat Electronics Ltd and a Consortium of Larsen & Tubro, Tata Power (Strategic Electronics Division) and HCL Infosystems

Shortlisted companies to prepare a Detailed Project Report based on which the Ministry of Defence to allocate budget for developing a prototype design by each

One these two DAs, on selection based on the success of the prototype design supposed to develop TCS for the Indian Army

•TCS conceived in 1990

• Evolving as telecommunication system and information carrying vehicle in the Tactical Battlefield

• A new generation meshed network exploiting the growth in microprocessor, radio, mobility and satellite technologies

•Based on light weight high mobility vehicles which will form highly mobile communication nodes connected as a grid

•Largely based on tested COTS technologies.

•Availability of Higher Bandwidth to handle significantly higher data rates and provide Voice, Video and Data


Battlefield Management System (BMS) Modernization of Indian Army

Soldier level

A handheld system providing individual dismounted soldiers with the information and

communication tools they need.

Vehicle level

The system to support tactical units with multi-role functionalities and should be integrated in vehicles as well as with weapons and sensors.

HQ level

The system should have a flexible, multilevel HQ configuration for advanced mission

planning, after action Review and connectivity with higher command.

Total order value approx USD 8 Bn with a Program Life Cycle Support for 15- 20 years Second largest MAKE Program of the Indian Armed Forces after FICV

Deploying BMS solution for 500 + battalions Expected retro fitment into existing vehicle fleet of about 30000 vehicles

Modernization and upgrade of all C4I elements up to a Battalion level for all Arms and Services






• Total size >10 Bn USD under Make category • Bidders Mahindra, Tata, L&T, Bharat Forge and OFB • L1 to get 70% order value ; L2 -30% • FICV Project announced by the Govt of India under ‘MAKE’ Category of DPP 2011 • Following trials the winning consortia will be awarded up to 70% of the production contract and the 2nd consortia up to 30% (subject to conditions)

Futuristic Infantry Combat Vehicle (FICV) Modernization of Indian Army

User Requirements Specifications

Mobility

Tactical : Tracked , amphibious

Strategic Mobility: Inter / Intra theatre moves ; Within acceptable Dimensions and

Weight

Firepower: Third Generation ATGM, Cannons, Machine Guns, AGL Digital fully integrated

fire control systems

Survivability: against all weapons on the battlefield - use of Hard & Soft Kill Protection

Systems, Mine Protection, NBC

Communications: Battlefield Management System


*DPP Strategic Objectives

*Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP)

Self reliance and indigenization

Modernization of armed forces

• Defence Acquisition - Complex decision making process that balances between

• Competing requirements of expeditious procurement

• Development of indigenous defence industry

• Conformity to the highest standards of transparency, probity and public accountability




Procurement categories under DPP

Buy Buy would mean an outright purchase of

equipment. Based on the source of procurement,

this category would be classified as ‘Buy (Indian)’ and ‘Buy

(Global)’. ‘Indian’ would mean Indian vendors

only and ‘Global’ would mean foreign as well as

Indian vendors. ‘Buy Indian’ must have minimum 30 %

indigenous content if the systems are being

integrated by an Indian vendor.

Buy & Make Buy Make Buy & Make Indian

Buy & Make Indian ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ decision would mean

purchase from an Indian vendor including an Indian

company forming joint venture / establishing

production arrangement with OEM followed by licensed production /

indigenous manufacture in the

country. ‘Buy & Make (Indian)’ must have

minimum 50 % indigenous content on cost basis.

Buy & Make Acquisitions covered

under the ‘Buy & Make’ decision would mean purchase from

a foreign vendor followed

by licensed production / indigenous

manufacture in the country.

Make Acquisitions covered

under the ‘Make’ decision would include high technology complex

systems to be designed,

developed and produced

indigenously.




Typical Procurement Timeline

•Initiation of Procurement Process •Draft Services Qualitative Requirements

•Detailed Technical requirement •Quantity, acquisition category offset obligations, training requirements • Commercial aspects • Evaluation criteria

•Technical evaluation of proposals • Field Evaluation • Staff Evaluation •Technical Oversight Committee (TOC) for Acquisitions ,if applicable

•Commercial negotiations with finalization report •Finalization of offset contract •Approval of Competent Financial Authority (CFA)

•Supply order creation

• Note: In case of ‘Make’ procedure for prototype Design & Development stage for which additional time to be accounted

Project Definition

Preliminary Design

Integration Test &

Analysis Fabrication/ Development

Detailed Design

Performance Evaluation

Prototype Design & Development Cycle

Acceptance of

Necessity,

Issue of Draft

RFP

Commercial

Negotiation

Technical

Evaluation &

Field Trials

Issue of RFP

Award of

Contract

Months 1 4 12 to 18 19 to 24 25 to 32

Involvement of IPMT at each phase for review & early feedback







Network Centric Warfare

(NCW)

Roadmap for NCW among tri services

Interoperability With legacy computer, communication systems,

various private, public clouds from different agencies

Limited Bandwidth Expensive bandwidth under hostile environment

Localized Boundary Defining the geographic localized boundary

Timeliness of Data Time limit for data, computing & communication

Security, privacy,

data/voice integrity

Security coverage for data in tactical battlefield

Changing Roles A war fighter data consumer may become data

producer





Heterogeneous data

sources

Unstructured data such as signals, text, image and

video with different standardization

Uncertain, noisy data Uncertainty in collected data due to weak signal,

packet loss, jamming

Standards & regulations Lack of Indian standards such as JSS 55555 and

regulations such as ITAR

Size, Weight & Power

(SWaP)

Constraints due to competing requirements for

mobility, survivability, firepower

Test Infrastructure &

Environment

Specialized test range facilities available with MoD

Uncertainties in DPP Uncertainties in policies & decision making such as

FICV program

Manpower in industry Lack of trained manpower in industry & training

workforce





Big data Data storage capacity, network congestion in tactical

cloud environment

Malware attacks Malware attacks, advanced persistent threats

continuously posing challenges

Spectrum licenses Spectrum allocation needed from agencies controlling

spectrum (ISRO/ANTRIX – Devas project, ‘S’ band )

RF Communication Need to test all types of weather conditions and

terrain conditions for validation

Troubleshooting & defect

fixing

Very high cost in creating separate development, field

environment

Unable to cover possible

scenarios

Scenarios such as NBC event, NEMP, E bomb event,

urban war such as 26/11 attack and combinations of it

Technology Acquisition Industry, tri-services and Govt. priorities clash from

time to time




Conclusion

Challenges multi-fold along the critical path

However opportunities in leveraging based on IT industry experience due to synergy

Industrial institutions and national security required to be protected from challenges emerging from cyber warfare

Industry can significantly contribute in order to stay abreast in the context of information superiority from NCW standpoint


Organized by

UNICOM Trainings & Seminars Pvt. Ltd.

[email protected]

Speaker name: Yeshwanta Hebalkar

Email ID: [email protected]


Thank You

