Original Broadcast 4/20/23
Presented by Iron Mountain and Carahsoft
In the ever-evolving landscape of national defense, the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and cutting-edge technologies has become not just a priority but a necessity. At the recent Sea-Air-Space conference, Melissa Carson, Vice President and General Manager for Iron Mountain Government Solutions, offered sharp insights into how the Department of Defense—and the sea services in particular—are navigating the complex path of AI integration by focusing on the foundational role of data.
Data as a Strategic Asset
According to Carson, data is now central to every component of defense operations, from supporting the warfighter at the tactical edge to powering navigation and communication systems. "It is now going to become the standard," she said, emphasizing that the military’s ability to make timely, informed decisions hinges on access to high-quality, well-managed data.
However, the rush to adopt AI has illuminated a foundational issue: missing, inaccessible, or poorly structured data. "They realized… they weren’t getting the right decisions,” Carson explained, “and what they found out was they’re missing data.” She likened the current environment to “swimming in data,” especially legacy data systems that are overwhelmingly composed of unstructured information—estimated at 80% of total data holdings.
Legacy Systems, Unstructured Data, and the AI Bottleneck
The prevalence of legacy systems remains one of the biggest hurdles to AI success. Most legacy data was never designed to be used in modern AI workflows. “They can’t use it with AI,” Carson stated bluntly. This insight has led many defense organizations to rethink their approach, choosing to pause AI efforts in favor of building a solid data governance framework first.
This recalibration is critical. Without proper structure, data cannot be trusted to inform decision-making. Worse, in an era of growing cybersecurity threats, unstructured and ungoverned data poses serious risks. “You can’t govern what you can’t see,” said Carson, stressing that the inability to identify or account for all data can lead to significant vulnerabilities. An adversary exploiting a forgotten or unknown dataset could lead to operational compromises that no one saw coming.
The Physical Stakes of Data Mismanagement
Carson drew a stark contrast between civilian government data management—such as tax returns and veterans' claims—and defense data. While both require care, defense data feeds into physical systems—assets that are literally on the battlefield. “There are physical assets depending upon this data,” she said. “A little bit more dangerous, I would say.”
The proliferation of sensors on ships, aircraft, and weapons platforms adds another layer of complexity. These systems generate torrents of data—hundreds of terabytes a day—and unless there's a structure in place to manage that flow, the problem only gets worse. “They keep piling in,” she noted, highlighting that the overwhelming majority of incoming data remains unstructured, making it essentially unusable in real time.
Structuring the Past to Inform the Future
When asked about the importance of restructuring old data versus ensuring new data is properly structured from the start, Carson was unequivocal: both are necessary. “If they don’t have that structured,” she warned, “they’re really missing out and maybe starting from scratch when they wouldn’t have needed to.” Historical data—from video feeds to operational logs—could be invaluable in future missions, offering lessons learned, patterns, and insights that would be impossible to glean if the information remains buried in chaotic or inaccessible formats.
Iron Mountain’s Role in the Mission
While Carson didn’t dive deeply into specific Iron Mountain capabilities during the conversation, her emphasis on data governance, risk mitigation, and mission continuity underscored the company’s core strengths. Iron Mountain has long supported both civilian and defense agencies with secure records and information management, and its expansion into digital transformation aligns closely with the needs of the modern warfighter.
Conclusion: Getting the House in Order
Melissa Carson’s message was clear: no matter how promising AI and advanced analytics may be, their value cannot be unlocked without first getting the data house in order. That starts with visibility, governance, and a strategy for both legacy and real-time information.
In a digital battlespace, data isn’t just part of the mission—it is the mission.
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