The Department of Defense’s Office of the Chief Information Officer has released an updated document establishing policy and outlining procedures for deploying and using Internet Protocol Version 6, or IPv6, in DOD information systems.
The updated DOD Instruction took effect Tuesday, Dec. 17, and was approved by Leslie Beavers, acting CIO at DOD and a 2024 Wash100 awardee.
According to the document, all new networked information systems that DOD components use should be IPv6-enabled before their operational use.
DOD IPv6 Implementation Plan
According to the latest instruction, the implementation plan outlines the phasing requirements for when IP-enabled assets on the department’s networks must operate in IPv6-only environments, identifies DOD information systems that cannot be converted to use IPv6 and requires that all new and existing IP-enabled customer edge interfaces must be configured with an IPv6 address.
Responsibilities of DOD Officials
The DOD CIO should monitor the department’s IPv6 implementation status and the replacement or retirement of information systems and applications that are not IPv6-capable, review all requests to waive IPv6 requirements on a case-by-case basis and require systems that back enterprise security services are IPv6-capable and operable in IPv6-only environments.
The updated guidance calls for the director of the Defense Information Systems Agency to maintain an IPv6 program management office to help manage and deconflict IPv6 priorities and plans; establish for the DOD community a knowledge base containing IPv6 lessons learned from various IPv6 pilot testing and limited deployments and IPv6 training resources for network engineers and cybersecurity personnel; and update IPv6 standards and implementation profiles in the DOD IT Standards Registry, among other actions.
The document also outlines IPv6 implementation-related responsibilities of the director of the National Security Agency/Central Security Service chief, DOD component heads, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and head of U.S. Cyber Command.
