On July 17, Google announced the general availability of Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance, a new configuration of Google Distributed Cloud that brings Google’s cloud and AI capabilities to tactical edge environments. The integrated hardware and software solution unlocks real-time local data processing for AI use cases such as object detection, medical imaging analysis, and predictive maintenance for critical infrastructure. The appliance can be conveniently transported in a rugged case or mounted in a rack within customer-specific local operating environments.
Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance offers:
- Department of Defense (DoD) Impact Level 5 (IL5) accreditation: The appliance has achieved Impact Level 5 accreditation, the highest level of security controls and protection required for unclassified, but sensitive information. The appliance is also designed to meet Impact Level 6 and higher accreditations, and is actively working towards achieving these certifications.
- Advanced AI capabilities: Customers can enhance the performance of their mission-critical applications by utilizing built-in AI solutions from the Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance like translation, speech, and optical character recognition (OCR). For instance, they can use OCR and translation features to scan and translate documents written in different languages, making them accessible and understandable for their end users.
- Rugged and portable design: Built to withstand harsh environmental conditions, including extreme temperatures, shock, and vibration, Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance has a rugged and portable design that meets stringent accreditation requirements like MIL-STD-810H, ensuring reliable operation even in challenging scenarios. Weighing approximately 100lbs, it’s human-portable, making it easy to transport and deploy in various locations.
- Full isolation: Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance is designed to operate without any connectivity to Google Cloud or the public internet. The appliance remains fully functional in disconnected environments, preserving the security and isolation of the infrastructure, services, and the APIs that it manages. This makes it ideal for processing sensitive data, while meeting strict regulatory, compliance, and sovereignty requirements.
- Integrated cloud services: Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance offers both infrastructure-as-a-services (IaaS) features like compute, networking, and storage, and Google Cloud services like data transfer and data analytics technologies.
- Data security: Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance includes robust security features like encryption, data isolation, firewalls, and secure boot to protect sensitive information.
“Google Distributed Cloud air-gapped appliance will enable the Air Force Rapid Sustainment Office (RSO) to bring the maintenance digital ecosystem to Airmen in austere and forward deployed locations, supporting the Air Force’s agile objectives while prioritizing security and reliability,” said Michael Roquemore, director of the RSO’s Rapid, Agile, Integrated Capabilities Team. “By delivering a secure and compliant edge compute platform, the RSO can leverage already developed Google-based technologies in both connected cloud and disconnected edge to bring digital innovation to the service members wherever they operate.”
Source: Google (Rohan Grover and Leigh Palmer)
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