Webex for Government Receives FedRAMP Authorization

We’re excited to announce that the Cisco Webex messaging solution is joining our existing portfolio of FedRAMP-authorized calling and meetings solutions. U.S. Public Sector customers that require FedRAMP solutions can now have persistent messaging, and will soon be able to experience calling, meeting and messaging together in a single unified app. In this environment where many teams are working remotely, having a single cloud app will provide flexibility and robust security for employees to work from anywhere. Cisco Webex messaging is the only end-to-end encrypted messaging solution – with true end to end encryption of content in use, in transit and at rest.

Unified App for all Workloads

The Webex unified app will allow customers to call, meet and message with one solution bringing market-leading Webex collaboration capabilities together for federal customers, partners, and vendors. By connecting cloud or on-premise Cisco calling services like Unified Communications Manager Cloud for Government (UCMC-G) or Unified Communications Manager (UCM) to the unified app, you can make calls from any device with your business number. In between calls and meetings, you can stay connected by chatting and sharing files with colleagues in dedicated and persistent team spaces. You’ll be able to meet face to face instantly, either one on one – or with your whole team. FedRAMP customers will be able to enjoy seamless integration with intelligent Cisco devices such as Webex Room devices and personal video devices like the DX-80. Proximity pairing capabilities such as pair/share and join/share will allow you to connect wirelessly to Webex devices to join meetings, present and share files and make calls. The Webex unified app allows you to connect and simplify your organization’s communications with a single end to end collaboration service.

Modern Meetings Experiences

In addition to adding the Webex unified app and UCMC-G calling into one package, Cisco will soon be making significant upgrades to modernize the FedRAMP authorized version of Webex Meetings, including:

200 video endpoints can join a meeting
New unified meeting roster
5×5 grid view
Wirelessly join meetings and share to room systems within “proximity” pairing
Whiteboarding in meetings

Figure 1. 5×5 Webex Meetings grid view

Calling Using UCMC-G and CUCM

UCMC-G provides secure, reliable cloud-based collaboration that scales as your needs change. It gives you industry-leading calling based on Cisco Unified Communications Manager (UCM) with a full set of telephony services, including voicemail and integrated messaging for IP phones, mobile phones, or desktop client. With Webex mobility options, you can use one number to dial, redirect and move calls between desktop and mobile phones.

Now, FedRAMP customers will be able to connect this service to the Webex app as a soft client endpoint in addition to using Jabber. Additionally, flexible cloud, hybrid and on-prem deployment options make it easy to expand, reduce calling costs and incrementally migrate to the cloud as your agency’s needs evolve.

More Integrated Workflows

Webex for Government integrates with the applications you already use, like Microsoft Office, take advantage of seamless calendar integration and the ability to join meetings with one button to push from desktop, tablet, and smartphone calendars. Additionally, customers can leverage ready-made integrations with Enterprise Content Management applications like Box or Microsoft OneDrive or use APIs to integrate with applications such as ServiceNow.

Simplified Administration and Security Controls

Moving to a single platform means streamlined IT administration via the Cisco Webex Control Hub. Webex Control Hub offers a holistic view of all your Cisco Webex services. Manage your services and users, provision devices, view detailed analytics and reporting, and configure security and compliance policies. All of this can help keep data safe and meet regulatory needs. IT administrators can troubleshoot quality of service issues in real time and view rich utilization metrics to help with organization wide adoption. Webex Control Hub even helps you monitor the quality of experience of remote workers on their home networks.

Figure 2. Webex Control Hub live meeting monitoring view

Compliance for Government and Government Contractors

Webex is used by U.S. federal agencies, state and local government, Federal contractors and US public education. Only Cisco provides end-to-end encryption options for meetings, and true end-to-end encryption by default for messages, files and whiteboards (with corporate visibility) in addition to the FedRAMP Moderate (IL2) controls assured.

Webex gives your IT administrators security, visibility and control and the ability to secure users even when collaborating outside of your organization. And we offer extended integrated security options including unified access security and multifactor authentication with FedRAMP versions of Cisco Duo, and FedRAMP authorized Cisco Cloudlock Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB).

Cisco is proud to offer this new, revolutionary single collaboration platform for government.