Cloud case studies

A virtually limitless training capability using cloud

US Navy: Harnessing cloud to revolutionize training of the shipboard IT network

Deloitte and the Navy collaborated to create a virtually limitless sailor training capability with virtualized hardware and infrastructure, removing hardware-based dependencies.

The US Navy’s Tactical Networks Program Office, PMW 160, is responsible for afloat network infrastructure and basic network information distribution services. One of the critical priorities of the program office is training sailors who operate and manage the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) network. To provide advanced CANES training, the Navy utilized physical network racks as training equipment at two training sites. With only two classrooms, the Navy was limited in the number of sailors it could train each year.

While critical to the fleet’s war-fighting capability, the CANES training environment was expensive to maintain, restricted to a single Hardware-Software (HW-SW) version combination, and configured to the oldest CANES baseline. Sailors were receiving training on legacy CANES systems based upon earlier technologies. The Navy sought a training environment that could keep pace with technology and provide sailors with virtual CANES environments that could be updated and deployed quickly. In the search for a training environment that removed the need for a physical hardware stack in the classroom, the Navy called Deloitte for help.

“The Navy sought a training environment that could keep pace with technology and provide sailors with virtual CANES environments that could be updated and deployed quickly.”

What happened next

Using AWS cloud, Deloitte collaborated with the Navy to create a virtually limitless sailor training capability. The Navy’s CANES Training Virtual Environment (TVE) provides a scalable, accessible, and adaptable learning environment that supports CANES training and troubleshooting.

Leveraging AWS CloudFormation, Amazon Machine Images, Amazon EC2 Bare Metal, VM Import/Export, AWS security tools, and custom configurations, the team re-platformed multiple variations of the CANES shipboard network on AWS GovCloud, saving the Navy costs as training is no longer reliant on physical hardware. The innovative architecture and design have enabled the Navy to provision thousands of servers and multiple concurrent CANES environments with a simple deployment user face.

Students now have individualized access to their specific shipboard CANES environment, curricula, and job sheets anywhere there is a broadband connection. CANES TVE provides fully functional virtual environments of physical CANES configurations that can be created in minutes. Because there is no physical hardware, or risk of compromising a physical network through student actions, the Navy can also increase the number of training scenarios, troubleshooting activities, and conduct real-life situation training. Deloitte’s approach enabled the Navy to provide a learning infrastructure accessible at many locations, via multiple users, concurrently, uncovering what’s possible for their organization.

 

By the numbers

40+ instance networks created, configured, and deployed in under 40 minutes using Cloud Formation, APIs, and custom code. Fastest CANES installation in the Navy

4x as many training sites, expanding training capabilities to training sites around the world

4x increase training throughput to 840 sailors a year

Anticipated 50% lower cost than building and sustaining physical training equipment over next 5 years

 

LET'S CONNECT.

Chris Thomas

Principal | Deloitte Consulting LLP