Collaboration software is an essential tool for organizations to work together effectively. However, many regulated markets including Banking, Health Care, Finance and Government have additional security measures to allow teams to collaborate without compromising the security of sensitive data. Cloud Collaboration
Webex already supports National Security and Defense environments with secure, on-prem calling, meeting, and messaging services. As our customer needs evolve, we’re committed to continually diversifying our portfolio with secure, cloud-based solutions for specialized security requirements.
Today, we are pleased to announce that Webex by Cisco is committed to delivering an air-gapped, cloud-based collaboration experience for National Security and Defense beginning 2024. We’ll provide National Security and Defense with the extreme level of security needed, without sacrificing the amazing user experience our civilian and commercial customers are accustomed to.
Air-gapped Trusted Cloud
The U.S. Government has an established approach to security assessment and authorization for cloud products and services for National Security and Defense. This includes air-gapped cloud deployments, which are isolated from public networks and operated on U.S. soil by local staff with specific security clearances to handle sensitive data.
Beginning next year, the Webex solution for air-gapped cloud deployments will provide an added layer of security, allowing teams to collaborate through modern meeting, chat and calling experiences through the Webex App. The solution will offer the added security the National Security and Defense requires without compromising the amazing user experience our commercial customers receive.
Customers leveraging our air-gapped solution will experience seamless interop with existing Cisco Unified Communication Management (CUCM) to capitalize on previous investments in Cisco technologies. By leveraging a common technology platform, Cisco will provide familiar experiences across both connected and disconnected environments.
Secure Collaboration For Government
Webex already helps many Government customers, including the National Security and Defense, with our Webex for Government offering. We provide on-prem solutions for top secret collaboration for their employees today, including calling, messaging, meetings, and file sharing from anywhere – all with the enterprise-grade security and reliability that customers depend on.
Compliance is critical, so Webex operates a FedRAMP authorized U.S. Trusted Cloud in-country, adhering to FedRAMP requirements. Additionally, critical controls and protections keep customers safe from cyber-attacks, data breaches, and security incidents. There is not a one size fits all solution for collaboration, which is why Webex’s approach to developing fully compliant collaboration solutions for Government takes into account local regulations, compliance requirements and security controls for individual Government communities. Our Ladder of Excellence approach lists levels of locality, their key characteristics and proof points of solutions we have delivered recently at each tier.
In fact, Techvision Research named Webex a leader in cloud collaboration with the best security and privacy. And the U.S.’s National Security Agency (NSA) has stated that Webex offers the most complete set of security and privacy tools to help organizations reduce risk across the entire collaboration ecosystem.
Commitment to Security Excellence Cloud Collaboration
The National Security and Defense’s work is critical in our rapidly changing global environment, as is safeguarding its highly sensitive information and data. We’re committed to delivering our air-gapped solution to address the new and unique needs of the National Security and Defense with the added layer of security necessary, coupled with the amazing user experience Webex is known for. While this announcement is specific to National Security and Defense, we’ll continue to innovate in developing fully compliant, customized collaboration solutions across all facets of government. Further context about our Webex Government solutions can be found here.
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