ACTIVATE is a control plane that connects users to computing resources on premises and in the cloud under one identity. activate.hpc.mil is its IL5 deployment for the High Performance Computing Modernization Program (HPCMP), operated by Parallel Works.
One login to compute, data, workflows, and AI
Users reach ACTIVATE from the browser, the CLI and API, or AI assistants. The control plane handles identity and groups, provisioning, workflows, sessions, the AI gateway, and allocations and metering across:
- Cloud clusters on AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud
- On-premises systems running Slurm and PBS
- Kubernetes clusters, with namespaces by group
- Storage, including buckets and filesystems
- AI models, hosted and external
Where ACTIVATE runs
The same code base, hardened containers, and base images run in all three environments:
- Commercial platform: commercial cloud and GPU providers; FISMA Low, aligned to IL2 controls
- High Security Platform: activate.hpc.mil, in IL5 Government regions and DSRC systems; DISA Provisional Authorization at IL5 and HPCMP ATO
- Customer-hosted: the customer's cloud account, data center, or Kubernetes cluster, inside the customer's boundary
The ACTIVATE High Security Platform
One IL5 boundary spans the DSRC systems and four IL5 clouds (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle) under one HPCMP login. DSRC systems running Slurm and PBS attach over DREN, and users sign in over NIPRNet or the commercial internet.
- July 2022: DIU prototype OT; the prototype effort begins
- April 2025: DISA IL5 Provisional Authorization
- October 2025: HPCMP ATO; first mission user onboarded
- May 2026: General availability across the program
New capability enters through DISA change requests, and new mission groups inherit the boundary's authorization.