The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) said yesterday that it closed two data centers in Dayton, Ohio and Chambersburg, Pa., on Oct. 1. 

Servers operating at a DECC. Photo: DISA.

DISA relocated the services to other Defense Enterprise Computing Centers (DECC). The move comes as the Department of Defense and the military services continue “aggressively consolidating their data centers and information technology infrastructure,” a DISA statement said.

With millions of users and hundreds of data centers, the department has sought consolidation since the 1990s in a bid to reduce costs and improve efficiency and security. DECCs were one of the initial results of this continuing process. At locations in the United States and abroad, DECCs aim to reduce confusion and delay with 24/7 phone support. The dozen megacenters are not affiliated to specific services or bureaus within the department.

“Through a diverse portfolio of information technology capabilities, DISA’s DECCs provide a common platform that enhances operational effectiveness and facilitates increased collaboration for the DoD,” a statement from DISA said. 

The consolidation also supports the department-wide emphasis on the Joint Information Environment (JIE). This includes not only data center consolidation, but leveraging of cloud computing, mobile technology and commercially available solutions adapted to meet DoD security standards.