Since 1997, we’ve continually improved our Operational Playbook, always focused on our ability to deliver resilient systems and applications to the missions we support. Through a combination of rigorous testing, proactive planning, and continuous improvement, we have enabled our DoD clients to maintain uninterrupted operations and achieve mission success in the face of a wide range of potential disruptions.

Here are key strategies and real-world proof points demonstrating how we achieve IT resilience and operational rigor while improving both performance and cost efficiency.

Whether you’re involved in military command and control, emergency response coordination, or any other mission-critical DoD function, the lessons and insights shared here can help you fortify your own IT resilience and operational rigor. Because in the world of no-fail missions, anything less is not an option.

Proactive Planning and Optimization

Planning and optimization are the foundations of the operational rigor equation. Anticipating potential issues and continuously improving our processes, we stay one step ahead of disruptions. We have had great success using Pareto analysis to identify the highest return and lowest investment areas of opportunity for optimization during our planning sessions.

A prime example of this proactive mindset is our work on a key DoD Agile DevSecOps program. When we inherited this program from the previous contractor, the system was hosted on a fragile, bare metal infrastructure with poor configuration control. Our team developed an aggressive plan to transition to milCloud 2.0 and AWS Commercial Cloud, a complex migration that required meticulous planning and flawless execution. By proactively identifying potential risks and developing contingency plans, we were able to complete the migration while maintaining operational integrity throughout. This avoided costly disruptions and ensured a seamless transition for end-users while delivering several operational improvements:

–          Automated Security Testing reduced manual vulnerability scans by 70%, leading to faster issue resolution​

–          Enhanced Redundancy: Implemented AWS GovCloud and milCloud redundancy features, achieving 99.98% system availability and significantly improving resilience in compliance with COOP requirements​

–          ​Operational Cost Savings: Optimized virtual machine deployment using AWS Lambda and EC2, cutting operational costs by approximately $1M annually by reducing over-provisioned resources

–          Customer Satisfaction and Efficiency Gains: Achieved over 95 successful project completions and reduced average project turnaround times by 30% due to optimized workflow automation​

We leaned hard into automation on a global data center program to deliver massive improvements in operational rigor. For example, our team automated database administration using robust scripts to automate key tasks and reduce DBA errors. By thoroughly testing and refining this process, we were able to recover 2.8 full-time equivalents (FTEs) annually, saving approximately 9,600 man-hours per year. These efficiency gains free up valuable resources that we redirected towards further enhancing resilience.

Proactive planning and optimization are about more than just preventing disruptions. They’re about continuously elevating our resilience posture, and finding ways to do things better, faster, and more efficiently. By staying ahead of the curve, we ensure that our DoD clients are always ready to handle whatever challenges come their way.

Rigorous Testing

The foundation of resilience is a commitment to rigorous, comprehensive testing. We believe that untested disaster recovery (DR) plans are no plan at all. They create a dangerous illusion of preparedness that can quickly crumble under the weight of real-world disruptions.

That’s why we prioritize regular, thorough testing of all our DR procedures and system architectures. We subject them to simulated disasters and real-world conditions to identify gaps, refine processes, and validate their effectiveness. This testing is not a one-time event, but a continuous process of improvement.

The results speak for themselves.

–          For a key war planning and execution program, our team developed new automation processes for server replication checks at supporting command & control (C2). Through rigorous testing and refinement, we were able to decrease unplanned downtime by 95%. This level of resilience is only possible through a dedication to thorough, ongoing testing.

–          Similarly, we sustained 100% data availability through a robust, disaster-recovery-ready storage network by implementing full redundancy across devices and subjecting the setup to extensive failover testing, continually closing gaps. When real incidents occurred, such as emergency data transfers needed during a key operation, our team was able to maintain uninterrupted visibility for Combatant Commands.

By subjecting your plans and systems to the crucible of rigorous testing, you ensure that they will perform as intended when real disruptions strike. This commitment to testing is the bedrock of our ability to deliver true IT resilience for your DoD clients.

A Culture of Continuous Improvement

Underlying our commitment to rigorous testing and proactive planning is a broader culture of continuous improvement. We recognize that IT resilience is not a static goal, but an ongoing journey that never ends. As technologies evolve and new threats emerge, so too must our strategies and practices.

Continuous improvement means also learning from every incident and using those lessons to strengthen your posture. A key enabler of continuous improvement is the empowerment of our teams. We foster a culture where everyone is encouraged to identify opportunities for optimization and innovation. We maintain Kanban planner boards and work as a team to identify high-value opportunities to improve our operational rigor.

This philosophy is a way of life. It drives teams to push the boundaries of what’s possible in IT resilience. Embedding this mindset into every aspect of your team’s work ensures that DoD missions benefit from the latest and most effective resilience practices.

The proof is in the pudding: 87 of our last 88 CPARS have been Exceptional or Very Good.

How Are You Achieving Unbreakable Ops?

IT resilience and operational rigor are non-negotiable imperatives in the world of DoD no-fail missions. The stakes are too high and the consequences of failure too severe.  If you support no-fail missions, you must engage in the relentless pursuit of unbreakable ops through operational rigor.

Rigorous testing, proactive planning, and a culture of continuous improvement will enable you to deliver meaningful results for our warfighters. From reducing system downtime and increasing data availability to enhancing security and achieving cost efficiencies, our experience shows that these battle-tested strategies deliver even in the most demanding of environments.

As the threat landscape evolves and new challenges emerge, so, too must your strategies and solutions. You must continue to invest in operational rigor to ensure mission success in the face of any disruption. For DoD organizations charged with no-fail missions, you must settle for nothing less than a commitment to excellence.

How are you pursuing Unbreakable Ops?

For authority (establishing longevity and experience), suggest rephrasing the first sentence to: Since 1997, we’ve continually improved our Operational Playbook, always focused on our ability to deliver resilient systems and applications to the missions we support.

There’s no benefit elucidated as a proof point. After the philosophy section, add something like:

What are the benefits of this mindset? The proof is in the pudding: 87 of our last 88 CPARS have been Exceptional or Very Good.