Policy based Network Operations and Management for Transformational Networks

Emerging Tactical Edge Networks (TEN) that extend GIG services to the individual warfighter require consistency in their enforcement of end-to-end Service Level Agreements (SLA), Quality of Service (QoS), routing, encryption, and other network access and control parameters for Joint interoperability. Policy Based Management (PBM) approaches provide the mechanisms to control and optimize the employment of resources within TENs to best meet mission needs. This optimization can ensure timely delivery of information from sensor to shooter to shorten the kill chain and foster information dominance for network-centric operations. As part of a holistic approach to NETOPS from GIG core to tactical edge, PBM enables the rapid, automated configuration and maintenance of large, heterogeneous dynamic networks without requiring operator expertise in a variety of device-unique configurations. Operators express commander´s intent and mission plan information into a broad set of electronic policies that define which resources need priority and under what conditions or time periods that priority applies. These policies are then dynamically interpreted to produce device-specific configuration directives that are automatically activated at the appropriate time in order to support the stated mission goals. This paper explores the variations of policies that apply to disparate tactical environments (e.g., Terrestrial, Maritime, Airborne, and Space) and platforms types (e.g., satellite terminals, gateways, installations, mobile tactical platforms) that feature a variety of software defined radios. These policies must interact to ensure joint interoperability in the transformational battlespace. We articulate a service oriented architecture approach to provide policy definition and management services to network operations systems.