Relevance of Cloud Computing for Defence

Technology has always played the key role in defining the outcome of war. A modern-day military is investing in cutting-edge technologies to leverage their benefits in the evolving nature of warfare, which encompasses every aspect of science. In the case of information and communication technology (ICT), the research and development has unleashed vast potential for civilian and military applications, which vary from simple logic execution to high-end supercomputing. As cloud computing has made inroads in the operations of private sector, it is slated to perform a central role in the functioning of governments and defence and security agencies. Under the aegis of ICT, the emerging cloud computing can find applications in defence sector as it offers numerous advantages over traditional information technology (IT) systems such as scalability, agility and interoperability. The article is an attempt to identify the key defence operations where cloud computing could help in addressing the IT needs while keeping the acquisition and maintenance costs at minimal. It brings in the concerns and challenges lying ahead in the way of adopting cloud computing while taking stock of initiatives taken by the governments of leading militaries of the world.