Global Information Grid

The Global Information Grid is an all-encompassing communications project of the United States Department of Defense. It is defined as a "globally interconnected, end-to-end set of information capabilities for collecting, processing, storing, disseminating, and managing information on demand to warfighters, policy makers, and support personnel." The GIG includes owned and leased communications and computing systems and services, software, data, security services, other associated services, and National Security Systems. Non-GIG IT includes stand-alone, self contained, or embedded IT that is not, and will not be, connected to the enterprise network. This new definition removes references to the National Security Systems as defined in section 5142 of the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996. Further, this new definition removes the references to the GIG providing capabilities from all operating locations. And lastly, this definition removes the part of the definition that discusses the interfaces to coalition, allied, and non-Department of Defense users and systems.