The U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) has authorized the enterprise IT vendor IBM to deliver IBM Cloud services at Impact Level 5, the highest security level – for Controlled Unclassified Information as defined by the Department of Defense (DoD).
Receiving the highest U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency Authorization for Cloud Services will be paving the way for DoD agencies to opt for the innovations cloud can offer and manage sensitive data. This will be a big win for IBM as the US technology will be allowed to participate in more federal contracts.
Bloomberg Government estimates that the DoD will spend nearly $4 billion in 2016 on cloud and provisioned services.
IBM has received a Conditional Authority to Operate IBM Cloud services hosted at the Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (ABL) data center in West Virginia, which is owned by the Department of the Navy and leased by IBM, from DISA.
IBM said it is the first cloud provider with a direct connection to the DoD’s internal network known as the Nonsecure Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet). The DISA authorization will enable other DoD agencies the opportunity to streamline their authorizations by leveraging the thorough process DISA followed.
IBM Cloud will provide access to commercial cloud services and technology dedicated to security needs. The secure data center at ABL enables agencies to have dedicated environments, leverage cloud technologies, or choose a hybrid solution.
“Department of Defense agencies have the opportunity to embrace commercial cloud best practices and technology with the security of a government-owned facility,” said Sam Gordy, general manager for IBM Federal.
“It will also provide DoD agencies with an ideal option to launch workloads in a hybrid cloud that can be easily integrated with their on premise systems. DoD is serving as a strong model to other cabinet level agencies in the federal government,” Gordy.