Despite increasing attacks on its networks, the Defense Department will continue to protect them the way they do now — at least for the time being.

In the past eight years, DOD officials have debated whether to assume total control of the department's networks or let network operations units in the military's commands continue to hold that responsibility. However, DOD officials have decided that current technology and turf battles preclude the formation of a centralized organization dedicated to managing and defending DOD networks.

Units in the military's commands, services and agencies will continue to operate and defend their networks. And they will work collaboratively under the oversight of Strategic Command's (Stratcom) Joint Task Force for Global Network Operations (JTF-GNO), according to the new "Joint Concept of Operations for Global Information Grid NetOps" document.

"There is now better centralization of authority and planning with a decentralization of execution at the combatant commands, services and agencies," said Army Col. James Barrineau, JTF-GNO's director for strategy, plans, policy and international relations, in an interview last week. He oversaw development of the document, which updates one issued last year and describes how DOD will operate and defend the GIG.

Barrineau said the 65-page document, which he described as more than a white paper but not quite military doctrine, achieves three goals for better operating and defending the GIG. First, it creates a better command structure, or unity of effort. Second, it provides for better communication on problems and threats, or common situational awareness. And finally, it enhances the performance of networks and their administrators, thereby enabling net-centricity.

DOD has debated for years how best to protect the GIG, Barrineau said. Some experts have proposed a new hierarchical approach in which the military has a single organization that operates and defends all of its networks. Others, however, support the current collaborative arrangement in which units in the military services manage and guard networks.