Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System
Encyclopedia
The Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System (JWICS pronounced JAYwicks), is a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense
and the United States Department of State
to transmit classified information
by packet switching
over TCP/IP
in a secure environment.
It is cleared up to Top Secret
and SCI. It also provides services such as hypertext
documents and electronic mail. In other words, the JWICS is the DoD’s Top Secret version of the Internet
together with its Secret counterpart, SIPRNet
. JWICS superseded the earlier DSNET2 and DSNET3, the Top Secret and SCI levels of the Defense Data Network
based on ARPANET
technology.
In day-to-day usage, the JWICS is used primarily within the intelligence community, with SIPRNet
and NIPRNet
comprising the overwhelming bulk of usage within US DoD.
JWICS was allegedly one of the networks accessed by Bradley Manning, who is accused of leaking massive amounts of material, including the video used in Wikileaks
' Collateral murder and US diplomatic cables.
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
and the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
to transmit classified information
Classified information in the United States
The United States government classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the...
by packet switching
Packet switching
Packet switching is a digital networking communications method that groups all transmitted data – regardless of content, type, or structure – into suitably sized blocks, called packets. Packet switching features delivery of variable-bit-rate data streams over a shared network...
over TCP/IP
Internet protocol suite
The Internet protocol suite is the set of communications protocols used for the Internet and other similar networks. It is commonly known as TCP/IP from its most important protocols: Transmission Control Protocol and Internet Protocol , which were the first networking protocols defined in this...
in a secure environment.
It is cleared up to Top Secret
Classified information in the United States
The United States government classification system is currently established under Executive Order 13526, the latest in a long series of executive orders on the topic. Issued by President Barack Obama in 2009, Executive Order 13526 replaced earlier executive orders on the topic and modified the...
and SCI. It also provides services such as hypertext
Hypertext
Hypertext is text displayed on a computer or other electronic device with references to other text that the reader can immediately access, usually by a mouse click or keypress sequence. Apart from running text, hypertext may contain tables, images and other presentational devices. Hypertext is the...
documents and electronic mail. In other words, the JWICS is the DoD’s Top Secret version of the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
together with its Secret counterpart, SIPRNet
SIPRNet
The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...
. JWICS superseded the earlier DSNET2 and DSNET3, the Top Secret and SCI levels of the Defense Data Network
Defense Data Network
The Defense Data Network was a computer networking effort of the United States Department of Defense from 1983 through 1995.-History:In 1975, the Defense Communication Agency took over operation of the ARPANET as it became an operational tool instead of a research project. In 1983, plans for a...
based on ARPANET
ARPANET
The Advanced Research Projects Agency Network , was the world's first operational packet switching network and the core network of a set that came to compose the global Internet...
technology.
In day-to-day usage, the JWICS is used primarily within the intelligence community, with SIPRNet
SIPRNet
The Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...
and NIPRNet
NIPRNet
The Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network is used to exchange sensitive but unclassified information between "internal" users as well as providing users access to the Internet. NIPRNet is composed of Internet Protocol routers owned by the United States Department of Defense...
comprising the overwhelming bulk of usage within US DoD.
JWICS was allegedly one of the networks accessed by Bradley Manning, who is accused of leaking massive amounts of material, including the video used in Wikileaks
Wikileaks
WikiLeaks is an international self-described not-for-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation, claimed a database of more...
' Collateral murder and US diplomatic cables.
See also
- Classified websiteClassified websiteA variety of networks operating in special security domains handle classified information in the United States or sensitive but unclassified information, while other specialized networks are reserved specifically for unclassified use by the same agencies...
- NIPRNetNIPRNetThe Non-secure Internet Protocol Router Network is used to exchange sensitive but unclassified information between "internal" users as well as providing users access to the Internet. NIPRNet is composed of Internet Protocol routers owned by the United States Department of Defense...
- SIPRNetSIPRNetThe Secret Internet Protocol Router Network is "a system of interconnected computer networks used by the United States Department of Defense and the U.S. Department of State to transmit classified information by packet switching over the TCP/IP protocols in a 'completely secure' environment"...
- Defense Data NetworkDefense Data NetworkThe Defense Data Network was a computer networking effort of the United States Department of Defense from 1983 through 1995.-History:In 1975, the Defense Communication Agency took over operation of the ARPANET as it became an operational tool instead of a research project. In 1983, plans for a...
- IntellipediaIntellipediaIntellipedia is an online system for collaborative data sharing used by the United States Intelligence Community . It was established as a pilot project in late 2005 and formally announced in April 2006 and consists of three wikis running on JWICS, SIPRNet, and Intelink-U...