The cases could allow military personnel to keep their phones with them in secure facilities that usually shun mobile devices, while helping to secure their communications when they're just out and about.

Remote access technologies are, by nature, exposed to more external cyberthreats.

"This isn't one of the areas where we're talking only conceptually," the Federal CIO said.

Department of Defense officials said they couldn't mandate strong passwords and automatic logouts for contractors because existing regulations are in the way.

Additionally, the agency failed to protect critical information technology assets found to be vulnerable two years ago, which could lead to intellectual property theft.

The agency has three new OTAs coming, including an evolution of the military's joint situational awareness system.