Client: United States Air Force Communication Agency

Introduction
The Air Force Communications Agency (AFCA) provides United States Air Force (USAF) Headquarters with the expertise needed to effect integration and interoperability among command, control, communications, computers and intelligence systems across the Air Force.

AFCC chose Rose International to define the concept of a Communications and Information Solutions Service (CISS), which pulls together the results of all Air Force hardware and software testing and interoperability evaluations. By exploiting the capabilities of the Internet, CISS makes it possible to share information, identify issues, reduce duplication of effort, save valuable time and scarce resources, and establish synergy between Air Force IT functional organizations.

The Problem
AFCA's existing information-sharing service, called the Interoperability Test Group (ITG), provides USAF users with test evaluations and interoperability information on a variety of hardware/software products available commercially. While still useful, the ITG service is narrowly focused and is based on the communications and information capabilities of the industry as defined in the late 1980s. Therefore, the ITG service is unable to keep pace with the growing requirements of today's USAF communications and information community. 

Goals of the new CISS are as follows:

• Identify and/or resolve interoperability testing issues regarding comments
• Identify and/or resolve interoperability testing issues regarding commercial communications hardware and software products;
• Reduce/eliminate non-value added duplication of effort in the testing/evaluation of commercial communications hardware and software products; and 
• Efficiently share among users all testing/evaluation information on commercial communications hardware and software products. 

The Rose Solution
Rose provided the concept for an operational, Web-based CISS system for all USAF users with the built-in adaptability to eventually serve the entire Department of Defense (DoD). CISS provides a "one-stop-shopping" destination for every user's Communications and Information (C&I) needs. CISS expands its C&I customer base from that of the ITG (testers and purchasers) to include developers, acquirers, implementers, operators, administrators / managers, maintainers and other users. CISS has the flexibility to serve the diverse needs of the C&I community and adapt easily to their individual, organizational, physical and functional structures.

A key element of CISS operation is limiting access to authorized military and government customers only. Realistic and uncompromising DoD software and hardware evaluation reports and systems certifications are critical to mission success. Restricted access is absolutely essential to protect the results of DoD product testing and evaluation. To this end, CISS locks out all non-DoD users, even those with access to .gov and .mil Web sites, by employing password protection.

CISS allows information queries by keyword, title, subject, etc. The design solution anticipates or covers all options the customers may exercise in their search. Along with the ability to search keywords, CISS provides a hierarchical-type breakdown, which leads users through the product categories as they refine their search. At the same time, the Rose concept keeps the database design simple, easy to use, and valuable as a tool for research. As an added feature, CISS has the ability to search the databases of contracted service providers (for example GartnerGroup).

CISS encourages frequent user access through its ease of use and responsiveness. The user is taken directly to the information being sought. To accomplish this, CISS responds to all communications and information requests in a variety of ways. For example, during queries CISS responds to any key words dealing with:

1. Capability (e.g., information protection)

2. Technology (e.g., ATM firewall)

3. Product Name (e.g., Sidewinder)

CISS also provides the user with the addresses of other information sources (federal, commercial or academic) if the user search does not produce the desired results or does not find the product evaluations or services requested.