As described in CMS Wire, in November 2014 the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program gave the Department of Health and Human Services its "Authority to Operate" stamp of approval for Office 365. According to Microsoft, this was the first cloud-based email and collaboration service to obtain a FedRAMP authorization. For those who aren't as familiar with the government edition of Office 365, it's a cloud-based email and collaboration suite that "offers U.S. public-sector customers a cordoned-off data center infrastructure just for them," writes Juan Carlos Perez in a contribution to PC World.
While the rollout in 2012 followed with new opportunities, it still sparks underlying concerns for those looking to migrate. However, those with concerns regarding security, fear not. Office 365 has a reputation of having world-class security and compliance features to fit your needs and alleviate any warranted concerns.
Office 365 for Government does not own your data
Carlos Perez continues: "Another even more exclusive option that Microsoft makes available is a private cloud, managed by either a Microsoft partner or by the customer itself. Thus, Office 365 for Government adds another option for U.S. government customers, whose data privacy, regulatory compliance and security needs vary depending on the nature of the work and the focus of the different agencies."
At the end of the day, you own the data you store and process. "We use your data only to provide the services you want," Microsoft claims—thus minimizing concerns that it mines your data for advertising purposes. And the built-in privacy controls allow administrators to determine who has access to what material. In addition, Microsoft has a dedicated threat management team that is highly trained to anticipate, prevent, and mitigate malicious access proactively. For more information on security and privacy measures, visit Microsoft's Office 365 Trust Center.
Your contribution is as important as Microsoft's
Migration requirements are, luckily, negotiable depending on whether you choose a hybrid deployment, which allows you to move some services to the cloud while keeping others on-premises. That said, if there are certain aspects you prefer not to move to the cloud so that they can be controlled on-premises, it doesn't make the Office 365 migration unattainable. Take this notion one step further and review the licensing options to make sure you're signing up for what works best with your company. Finally, ensure that your company is meeting the system requirements and using an operating system of Windows 7 or later and Office 2010 or 2013.
You are in good company
There is an increasing number of government organizations that have successfully made the switch to Office 365, and the numbers continue to grow. With a vibrant community of users, you can get the information you need to roll out the software, as well as the tips you need to overcome similar obstacles.
To learn more about this topic, check out our article entitled "Why Use Office 365 Government?"
