DISA collaborates across the department to remove critical asset blind spots for a significant US security partner

By Eddie Bullock
DISA Central Field Command
August 9, 2022 

The Defense Information Systems Agency Central Field Command, DISA Europe Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization, and U.S. Central Command Joint Security Office conducted a Fiscal Year ‘22 Higher Headquarters Assessment of four commercial cable landing stations for the United Arab Emirates, a significant U.S. security partner that hosts about 3,500 U.S. military personnel at UAE military facilities.

DISA and U.S. Central Command’s specialized Mission Assurance Assessment assisted the United Arab Emirates in identifying a list of Task Critical Assets that help UAE remain prepared and better respond to critical infrastructure incidents and blind spots.

A few of the Task Critical Assets included three large data centers strategically located in Fujairah and Dubai, which support various commercial content providers such as Google, Netflix and Amazon.

 

The collaborative effort consisted of physical and visual inspections of select commercial cable landing stations, and reviewing policies, processes and procedures within the U.S. Central Command Area of Responsibility.

Assessment findings disclosed potential vulnerabilities while associating the more extensive risk management process of mission mapping, decomposition and risk response, including remediation, mitigation and reconstitution.

 

During this visit, U.S. Defense teams also received a tour of the United Arab Emirates Integrated International Maintenance Centers, which initiated dialogue on United Arab Emirates operations for authorized and unauthorized escalation policies and procedures.

UEA international sales officers outlined rebranding and relocation initiatives, prompting Anh Carlton, Defense Information Technology Contracting Organization Europe, to share vendor guidelines, including requirements for registration within the Joint Contingency Contracting System, which allows vendors to compete for current and future U.S. government telecommunications contracts.

This collaborative Mission Assurance Assessment and trip was successful for both nations. As a long-standing strategic partner to the United States, DISA and the Department continue to provide early intelligence to the United Arab Emirates and collaborate on defensive matters that further strengthen U.S. security ties.