The Department of Defense mismanaged its transition to Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6), according to the department’s inspector general. As a result, the benefits of the new protocol are unavailable, and the migration delay could increase costs and vulnerabilities, the IG found.
“Although DoD satisfied the requirement to demonstrate IPv6 on the network backbone by June 2008, DoD did not complete the necessary federal and DoD requirements and deliverables to effectively migrate the DoD enterprise network to IPv6,” the IG wrote.
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Auditors found multiple missteps, including:
■failure by the Department of Defense CIO and by U.S. Cyber Command (USCYBERCOM) to make IPv6 a priority;
■failure by the CIO, CYBERCOM and DISA to coordinate their efforts or to take advantage of available resources to further the transition, and;
■failure of the CIO to maintain a current plan of action and milestones.
The IG recommended creation of a department-wide IPv6 office. It also recommended better coordination between CYBERCOM, DISA, the Army’s Information Systems and Engineering Command, and other organizations involved in testing. Milestones and responsibilities also need to be established, and any delays reported to the Deputy Secretary of Defense.
