DIB Embraces Cloud PCs: Streamlined Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Cost Savings
Aerospace and Defense Distributor Embraces Cloud PCs: Streamlined Compliance, Risk Mitigation, and Cost Savings Jaco Aerospace holds a pivotal role in the aerospace and defense industry. As a distributor, they serve a remarkably diverse clientele, including the Defense Industrial Base, airlines, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, general aviation, space exploration, rocketry, satellites, supersonic aircraft, lunar landers, Air-Taxi initiatives, and Defense Technology companies. This diversity brings heightened responsibilities, especially in meeting stringent compliance requirements. Beyond the standard distributor regulations, they have to adhere to rigorous standards such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Department of Defense (DoD), AS9120, and the DoD’s Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). For a detailed breakdown of these requirements, check out their whitepaper here. Early Adoption of Cloud PCs Jaco Aerospace was an early adopter of cloud technology, transitioning their operations to Cloud PCs in February 2022. They recognized the transformative potential of cloud computing for IT infrastructure and firmly believe traditional PCs will soon become a thing of the past. By integrating Cloud PCs, they enhanced their AS9120-certified quality system, prioritizing risk reduction. The decision to migrate to the cloud in a post-COVID-19 world has unlocked numerous benefits, including: Enhanced Compliance Their operating environment meets the requirements of CMMC Level 1 (self-attestation). The straightforward in-house implementation enabled them to achieve and maintain compliance with ease. Robust Cybersecurity Cloud PCs help mitigate cybersecurity risks by enabling granular control over user permissions through conditional access policies. For example, they restrict most users' access to Microsoft apps on mobile devices, ensuring sensitive data remains secure. Consistent User Experience With Cloud PCs, they deliver a uniform user experience across the organization, improving productivity and streamlining workflows for all team members. Cost Savings The reduced need for IT-related user interactions and minimal hardware changes translate to significant cost savings in both the short and long term. Increased Connectivity Employees benefit from breakneck internet speeds when connecting to Cloud PCs, ensuring smooth and uninterrupted workflows. Furthermore, as they use Microsoft Teams for all phone communication, this speed results in high-quality calls not always found in their legacy VOIP solutions. Scalable Resources Cloud PCs allow them to dynamically scale memory and RAM based on individual user requirements, providing flexibility and operational efficiency. Simplified Scalability for Growth As their business grows, onboarding new employees is seamless. In rare employee departures, they can quickly offboard them and repurpose their equipment, ensuring a smooth transition. Risk Mitigation in Action The benefits of risk mitigation are often challenging to quantify, but recent events provided a clear example of its value. Their Valencia headquarters was in an evacuation zone during the Southern California wildfires. Thanks to their cloud infrastructure, employees swiftly transitioned to working from home by taking their thin client devices. Jaco Aerospace was required to maintain uninterrupted operations as a critical part of the Defense Industrial Base during COVID-19. At that time, the absence of a cloud-based system posed significant IT challenges. In contrast, during the wildfire evacuation, their team experienced just a one-hour disruption before resuming full operations—a stark difference that underscores the agility enabled by Cloud PCs. Looking Ahead At Jaco Aerospace, they see Cloud PCs (Windows 365) as a cornerstone of their future, enabling them to stay agile, secure, and ready to tackle any challenges that come their way. Whether it’s meeting stringent compliance requirements or ensuring seamless business continuity during unexpected events, their transition to the cloud has proven to be an invaluable asset. With the upcoming release of Microsoft’s Windows 365 Link, companies shifting to a Cloud PC environment will benefit from its affordability and the streamlined process of embracing this forward-looking technology. As the industry evolves, they remain dedicated to adopting innovative solutions that enhance operational efficiency and deliver unparalleled value to their customers.The Strategic Advantage of AI for the Defense Industrial Base
In an era where technological advancements are rapidly reshaping industries, the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) stands at the threshold of a transformative opportunity through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The integration of AI into defense operations promises unprecedented efficiency, operational superiority, and strategic advantages. The Department of Defense believes so much in AI technology that they budgeted $1.8B in FY24 to support AI efforts which could include identifying potential threats or targets on the battlefield.Microsoft Copilot for Security and NIST 800-171: Access Control
The second blog in this series will dive into the very first requirement family - Access Control (3.1) - and how organizations may deploy Microsoft Copilot for Security (Security Copilot) to meet the requirements entailed. This requirement family is arguably one of the most paramount because of the remarkable growth in identity-based attacks and the need for identity architects and teams to work more closely with the Security Operations Center (SOC). Microsoft Entra data noted in the Microsoft Digital Defense Report shows the number of “attempted attacks increased more than tenfold compared to the same period in 2022, from around 3 billion per month to over 30 billion. This translates to an average of 4,000 password attacks per second targeting Microsoft cloud identities [2023]”.Microsoft Collaboration Framework for the US Defense Industrial Base
This article focuses on the candidate reference architectures for identity to accommodate Multi-Tenant Organizations (MTO), and specifically those that have a deployment in the US Sovereign Cloud with Microsoft 365 US Government (GCC High) and Azure Government. It also addresses external collaboration in highly regulated environments, inclusive of organizations that are homed in either Commercial or in the US Sovereign Cloud.
