Road to Defense Digital Transformation: Obstacles and Drivers

Xavier Mongin

July 23, 2024

Explore key obstacles in defense digital transformation and why starting now is crucial for future success and efficiency

On the Road to Defense Digital Transformation: Obstacles and Drivers

Defense organizations around the world are aggressively adopting and adapting technologies for application in combat and warfare scenarios. Increasingly, the acquisition, distribution or management of data is what’s driving their strategy.

Why this approach now?

There are a couple of key reasons. Data is seeing unprecedented double-digit annual growth and, you don’t need to look further than the news to see that the nature of the threat landscape is changing. This is further complicated by the ongoing need to monitor and address growing cybercrime and disinformation.

Out with the old, in with the new

Information and communications technologies (ICTs) have the power to connect everything, everywhere. Defense organizations adopting ICTs, have the power to fully exploit available data and move it more efficiently and securely.

In the past, legacy structures, such as administration, workplaces and offices, had the potential to slow transformations, however ICT has reached the point where many of these concerns are no longer obstacles.

Armed with the right digital transformation strategy and ICT technologies, organizations can create smart bases, from which they can more efficiently meet operational objectives during peacetime and conflict. They can also more effectively address cyberthreats and more readily compete for top talent.

Accessing the right data at the right time can have significant benefits. These include optimizing processes at HQ and on military bases, supporting more informed decision-making in the field, and augmenting connected personnel and equipment in all zones — across land, air, sea, space and cyberspace.

Roadblocks to change

A major obstacle to digital transformation is internal structure. Business and technology silos have created a unique operating environment with outdated communications systems, such as PBX-based telephony. Many existing systems operate in an independent environment, not connected to the Internet or the cloud.

While the migration to IP technology began 10 to 20 years ago for other sectors, the same is not true for the defense sector, which faces these obstacles:

• Security: Regulatory compliance, privacy requirements and the need to protect sensitive data made it difficult to adopt technology that could be breached
• Culture and governance: A top-down management structure that mandates senior-level approval for major change initiatives meant the military missed out on the influx of millennials and digital natives in the private/ public sectors who created bottom-up pressure to adopt digital technologies
• Budget: With limited resources, maintaining the readiness of equipment and personnel has been the priority
• Competition: The defense sector lacks direct competitors in the economy and has been primarily focused on ensuring the technological prowess of battlefield assets and connected warfare system

Drivers for change

Machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), advanced sensors and autonomous systems have become the foundation of a more sophisticated and connected generation of weapons. These technologies are ushering in a shift to a more data-centric management process.

To optimize processes and maintain a state of readiness, every defense organization must find efficient and effective ways to collect, store and distribute all the additional data these new systems generate.

Intensifying the situation are more changes to the framework in which defense organizations must now operate. Traditional delineations of air, land and sea operations have given way to a more complex global view. To be effective, those independent silos must now be part of a highly connected strategic framework focused on multi-domain operations and built on the seamless movement of data within and between all domains.

NATO, for example, has added space and cyber to its traditional maritime, land and air operations as a recognition of the data threat and the need to better orchestrate across these domains.

Further complicating this is defense cooperation agreements that Brandon J. Kinne underscores in his article: Defense Cooperation Agreements and the Emergence of a Global Security Network. “…establish long-term institutional frameworks for routine bilateral defense relations, including coordination of defense policies, joint military exercises, working groups and committees, training and educational exchanges, defense-related research and development and procurement”.

These agreements are built on new operational models based on information sharing, interconnected dynamic operation, agile and rapid decision-making, real-time coordination and the need for information security and resiliency.

To enable multi-domain operations and support defense cooperation agreements, defense organizations need systems that can more efficiently and securely move data. Organizations are quickly adopting IP standards and Internet of Military Things (IoMT) technologies and systems to address the need to collect and process data from onboard vessels, vehicles, and unmanned assets and as wearables for augmented soldiers.

While IoMT technologies can collect data, it’s still challenging to efficiently deliver, distribute and process that data. As a result, many defense organizations are now considering how best to optimize processes by converging independent operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) systems into one consolidated operational framework.

Additionally, the evolution and sophistication of technology has enabled states to wage more efficient cyberwarfare.

Therefore, the scope of defense protection efforts must now include digital deterrence capabilities against cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, as well as misinformation, disinformation and malinformation campaigns.

But the reality is this can’t be done with outdated and obsolete ICT systems. Yesterday’s systems can’t support multi-domain operations that include the cyber domain. Additionally, they’re unable to support defense cooperation agreements with partner countries that must share information with the assurance that information will be protected and secure.

Finally, when it comes to employee attraction and retention, the defense sector faces the same challenges that commercial enterprises face every day — how to attract and retain top talent. Defense organizations must have ICT tools to train personnel in all areas, create an efficient and rewarding work environment and enable the work-life balance that employees now expect.

If you’re ready to explore how ICT and advanced solutions can drive your defense organization’s digital transformation, check out our defense solutions.