Microsoft Azure GCC High for Government Cloud Computing

Microsoft Azure GCC High is a highly secure and compliant cloud platform designed specifically for government agencies. It's a US government DoD Impact Level 5 cloud service.

This means it meets the highest security standards for classified information. Azure GCC High is built on the same robust infrastructure as Azure, but with additional security controls and monitoring.

To ensure the highest level of security, Azure GCC High uses advanced threat protection, data encryption, and access controls. This provides a secure environment for government agencies to store, process, and transmit sensitive information.

By leveraging Azure GCC High, government agencies can accelerate their digital transformation while maintaining the highest level of security and compliance.

Microsoft offers a range of solutions for government and defense customers, including Microsoft 365 for Government, Defense and DIB.

These solutions are designed to meet the stringent compliance and security requirements of government, defense and the defense industrial base (DIB). The most feature-rich option is Microsoft 365 Commercial, but it may not be sufficient for ITAR, EAR, or Department of Defense (DoD) Controlled Defense Information (CDI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud (GCC) is a special copy of the Office 365 commercial environment, designed to meet the needs of government customers. It is a dedicated data and services enclave within the Commercial cloud, with some guarantees, including data residing in the U.S. and access restricted to screened Microsoft personnel.

Here are the versions of Microsoft 365 for Government, Defense and DIB:

Microsoft 365 GCC High is the middle ground between GCC and a rigorous DoD solution, designed for DIBs that require a cloud service capable of being compliant with ITAR, EAR, and other frameworks. It is built on Azure Government and complies with FedRAMP High and NIST 800-171, CMMC L1-3, and CUI corporately and on behalf of the Government.

FedRAMP is a common compliance request, and I'm often asked where workloads should go. The answer is simple – it depends. Both Azure and Azure Gov maintain FedRAMP High P-ATO (Provisional Authorization to Operate), so both can be used.

If system access needs to be limited to screened US persons, then Azure Gov would be required. Otherwise, Commercial may be sufficient. Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Power BI are also in-scope.

This doesn't mean your application or solution is automatically compliant. Compliance requires more than just Microsoft having an approval. Azure Policy definitions can help ensure that Azure services are correctly configured to support compliance, but every compliance standard requires shared responsibility.

Microsoft offers a range of Office Government Cloud solutions, each designed to meet specific compliance requirements. Office 365 Government Community Cloud (GCC) is a special copy of the Office 365 commercial environment, with some guarantees.

GCC is not a separate cloud offering, but a dedicated data and services enclave within the Commercial cloud. It ensures all covered workloads, such as Exchange and SharePoint, have data residing in the U.S.

Data in GCC is logically segregated from the Office 365 Commercial services and access is restricted to screened Microsoft personnel. Compliance includes FedRAMP High, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS), and more.

GCC Moderate is another term for GCC, and it's not sufficient for ITAR, EAR, or DoD Controlled Defense Information (CDI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI).

EZCA is the best PKI for Azure GCC High, built by ex-Microsoft PKI engineers with experience in securing highly secure environments for sensitive data.

Choosing EZCA as your PKI of choice can be reassuring, especially when you consider that governments and other highly secure organizations trust Keytos. Public schools, universities, and even entire countries rely on Keytos for top-notch, government-grade PKIaaS.

Microsoft recommends using GCC High for customers needing CMMC 2.0 compliance or handling CUI for better overall security and compliance.

CMMC 1 and FCI compliance can be met with all four versions of Microsoft 365, but GCC High provides a more secure option for those requiring CMMC 2.0 compliance.

To understand the differences between Microsoft 365 versions, refer to the compliance matrix from Microsoft's Public Sector Blog, which lists their capabilities and supported compliance frameworks.

Azure GCC High is designed to meet the stringent security and compliance requirements of government agencies. It's built on top of Azure, which means it inherits its security features.

Data in Azure GCC High is logically segregated from the Office 365 Commercial services, providing an additional layer of security. This means that even if the Commercial environment is compromised, Azure GCC High data remains safe.

The Government Community Cloud (GCC) Moderate, also known as GCC, is not a separate cloud offering, but rather a dedicated data and services enclave within the Commercial cloud. This is an important distinction to make, as it affects the level of security and compliance.

Azure GCC High supports compliance frameworks such as FedRAMP High, Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations Supplement (DFARS), Criminal Justice Information (CJI/CJIS), and Federal Tax Information (FTI). These frameworks ensure that sensitive government data is handled and stored in a secure and compliant manner.

Here's a summary of the key compliance frameworks supported by Azure GCC High:

Azure GCC High also provides restricted access to systems, ensuring that only screened Microsoft personnel can access the data. This adds an extra layer of security to the already robust Azure environment.

EZCA, an Azure-native certificate authority, is now available to Azure GCC customers, providing a simple, secure, and easy-to-use PKI solution.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework requires defense contractors and other vendors to adhere to specific cybersecurity standards to secure and protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the DoD supply chain.

The release of EZCA for Azure GCC has been met with tremendous enthusiasm among Azure GCC High clientele, making it easier for security engineers to set up secure and compliant PKI.

Security engineers must navigate a complex landscape of features to ensure the optimal balance of security, efficiency, and compliance when selecting a PKI solution for Azure Government Cloud Computing (GCC) High environments.

Advanced security measures, such as HSM backed CAs, are crucial for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of government data, while also enabling efficient and secure communication within and across various governmental departments.

EZCA provides features like seamless integration with Intune for device management, robust support for Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructures, and the ability to automate certificate lifecycle management.

In Azure GCC High environments, security engineers must navigate a complex landscape of features to ensure the optimal balance of security, efficiency, and compliance.

Advanced security measures are crucial in GCC High environments, where stringent regulatory requirements must be met.

Seamless integration with Intune for device management is a key consideration, allowing for streamlined device management and improved security.

Robust support for Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructures is necessary to handle the unique security challenges of IoT devices.

HSM backed CAs provide an additional layer of security for certificate management.

The ability to automate certificate lifecycle management is essential for streamlining processes and reducing administrative burdens.

In modern authentication, the right PKI solution is crucial for maintaining the integrity and confidentiality of government data.

Office 365 DoD is built on Azure Gov DoD, while Office 365 Government Secret uses Azure Secret.

These environments are designed to meet the requirements of stronger regulations, including ITAR and EAR. They have restrictions to prevent sharing data with non-compliant organizations, ensuring data residency and sovereignty.

GCC High is built on Azure Gov, using Microsoft Entra ID Gov for stronger guarantees on data residency and sovereignty. This allows ITAR and EAR data to be processed and stored.

Office 365 DoD and Office 365 Government Secret have separate Microsoft Entra ID environments, requiring different credentials and tenancies. This ensures that you're always accessing a restricted system and can't accidentally move data between systems.

You'll have more than one identity, with a domain ending in .onmicrosoft.us, indicating a more restricted system. This is a best practice for security, ensuring you're aware of the restricted nature of the data and services being accessed.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework is a set of cybersecurity standards that defense contractors and other vendors working with the Department of Defense (DoD) must adhere to in order to secure and protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the DoD supply chain.

CMMC 2.0 requires the application of CUI Designation Indicator labels and other visual markings, such as headers and footers, which must be dynamically applied in real-time.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) framework is a set of cybersecurity standards that defense contractors and other vendors working with the Department of Defense (DoD) must adhere to in order to secure and protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) across the DoD supply chain.

Companies handling CUI must be able to demonstrate compliance with the controls set out in NIST SP 800-171 to meet CMMC L2, which are codified in DFARS 252.204-7012 for cloud service providers.

Microsoft recommends using GCC High for customers needing to be CMMC 2.0 compliant or handling CUI for better overall security and compliance.

The CMMC 2.0 certification requires compliance with FAR 52.204-21 for FCI and DFARS 252.204-7012 for CUI, which must be dynamically enforced using data-centric controls and fine-grain access and unique protection capabilities.