Greetings! Let's dive into Rancher's Harvester product and explore some of the synergies that emerge when we combine the infrastructure and orchestration layers using a unified API. That unified API is the Kubernetes API. So, instead of using the usual cloud-agnostic tools in our toolbox (Terraform, Ansible, etc), we are going to try to use ONLY Kubernetes to deploy a guest RKE2 cluster onto Harvester and then install Rancher Multi-cluster Manager on that cluster. Ideally we do this with minimal steps and avoid usage of complex bash scripts.

The United States Army’s outdated command and control (C2) infrastructure limits its operational efficiency, particularly in critical combat scenarios. The agency’s “C2 Fix” initiative aims to address these issues by simplifying network infrastructure across Army formations. With over 85% of the Army’s units still relying on less agile legacy systems, the current C2 framework lacks the flexibility to support rapid, secure, and scalable communications between intelligence, sustainment, and tactical operations.      

Open-source software (OSS) offers flexibility and innovation, but federal agencies face challenges when integrating these tools into mission-critical operations. Rancher Government Solutions (RGS) understands these challenges and an RGS Subscription ensures that agencies using OSS like Kubernetes receive the stability, security, and support required to meet and exceed government standards.

Containerization and microservices architecture have become foundational in modern software development and operations. Gartner predicts that by 2026, over 90% of global organizations will be running containerized applications in production, up from less than 40% in 2021. This shift brings both opportunities and complexity for enterprise IT. 

The balance between modernizing IT infrastructure and preserving existing investments presents a major concern for the U.S. Government. By allowing customers to leverage new technologies without the constraints of vendor lock-in or hardware limitations, RGS is transforming the approach to IT modernization, ensuring a future-proof IT environment with unparalleled flexibility and choice.

While the push towards modernization in the U.S. Government and Military is critical, transforming and modernizing government IT infrastructure has never been more challenging. Traditional service providers are increasingly becoming a source of frustration. Agencies find themselves constrained by the technical limitations, escalating costs, and inflexibility of these legacy systems.  

Overview and Introduction

In today's highly connected world, we sometimes forget that there are many instances, especially in the government, where environments need to be intentionally isolated from external connectivity, creating what is known as an air-gapped or disconnected environment. In some cases, these environments may have external connectivity, but that connectivity is extremely unreliable or is limited in it's communication, creating what is known as a denied, disrupted, intermittent, and limited impact environment.

In a recent webinar, Brandon Gulla, Chief Technology Officer at Rancher Government Solutions (RGS), alongside Dominic Perez from Curtiss-Wright Defense Solutions, offered a deep dive into the world of cloud capabilities at the tactical edge. Hosted by Signal Media, this discussion was a masterclass in enhancing the effectiveness of military and emergency operations in challenging environments. 

The Changing Security Requirements Landscape

In the wake of watershed cybersecurity events like the SolarWinds breach and the Log4J vulnerability, federal agencies face urgent demands to secure their software supply chains. Along with emerging congressional action and forthcoming CISA regulations, Executive Order (EO) 14028 on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity is a direct response to these crises, imposing rigorous new standards for software security. The reality is clear: securing software supply chains is no longer optional; it’s a national imperative.

In a landscape cluttered with cybersecurity solutions, Rancher Government Solutions (RGS) distinguishes itself through a triad of differentiators: our adherence to Defense Information Security Agency (DISA)-approved Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs), our commitment to Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140 Encryption standards, and our “Secure by Default” ethos.