Case Study: Defense Information Systems Agency achieves real-time global HD streaming and multimillion-dollar cost savings with Akamai Technologies

Defense Information Systems Agency Fulfills Department of Defense Real-time Global Streaming Requirements while Slashing Costs

The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), the Department of Defense combat support agency that provides global command, control and information-sharing services, needed to cut travel and temporary‑duty costs while still delivering mission‑critical briefings, trainings and conferences to widely dispersed personnel—including those in austere or maritime environments with limited connectivity. Traditional video‑teleconferencing and on-site events were costly to deploy, scale and maintain.

DISA extended its internal Managed CDN (GCDS) with Akamai’s HD Streaming, NetStorage and an adaptive media player across NIPRNet/SIPRNet to deliver live and on‑demand content directly from desktops without building new infrastructure. The solution supported peak viewership of over 5,000 concurrent streams, enabled 272+ live events and ~59,000 playbacks, and drove major cost reductions—most notably the Air Force’s documented savings of more than $5 million—while cutting travel, setup and operational expenses.

Defense Information Systems Agency