{"id":52456,"date":"2024-06-25T07:34:52","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T11:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/centricconsulting.com\/?p=52456"},"modified":"2024-06-26T17:19:28","modified_gmt":"2024-06-26T21:19:28","slug":"streamline-deployment-with-aws-govcloud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/centricconsulting.com\/blog\/streamline-deployment-with-aws-govcloud\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Streamline Your Cloud Deployment with AWS GovCloud"},"content":{"rendered":"
Cloud deployment can be a complex task for government agencies and other public-sector organizations. Ensuring the highest security and compliance standards is crucial, but these organizations still need to innovate to best serve their citizens and communities.<\/p>\n
Regardless of this consideration, government cloud spending grew by $6.2B in 2023<\/a>, which makes it the second year in a row of major increases in spending.<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud can help \u2013 it offers a secure cloud environment specifically designed to meet the demanding needs of the U.S. government.<\/strong> In this article, we\u2019ll explore the key features and benefits of AWS GovCloud, including how it empowers your government agency and other businesses to use the cloud\u2019s scalability and flexibility while implementing strict security protocols.<\/p>\n The US Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently transitioned to the cloud using AWS GovCloud<\/a> to not only deploy the cloud but to also drive IT transformation.<\/p>\n ATF found itself with a lot of technical debt with systems they were unable to update. In fact, the organization lost its data recovery center and ran on Windows 3.11. They would frequently send team members home to work because their home internet was faster with a VPN than it was in the office, and its newest data server was 10 years old. When their systems crashed, they lost data and couldn\u2019t report.<\/p>\n They needed to modernize and fast.<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud is made for organizations like the ATF that are either a government entity or may need to do business with a government entity<\/a>.<\/strong> For example, businesses will create all of their infrastructure in AWS GovCloud knowing that it provides all the services needed to receive an authorization to operate<\/a> (ATO).<\/p>\n What is involved in an ATO? After you apply for the ATO, you have to go through a couple of rounds of auditors. The first set of auditors is usually one of the organization\u2019s choices, and they\u2019ll perform testing similar to the next round, so you have the chance to refine and make sure you have everything together in preparation.<\/p>\n Once you feel you have everything completed and these auditors sign off, the third-party auditor of the organization you will be working with will perform an audit. Once you receive the ATO, you can work with other government agencies as well, as they maintain a list of software and vendors with ATOs. AWS has a page that shows all their services<\/a>, if these are approved, and at what level (medium or high trust).<\/p>\n All of this to say that compliance and security in government cloud deployments is especially critical in the business world due to the sensitive nature of the data involved.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s why:<\/p>\n As mentioned in the last section, AWS GovCloud\u2019s security and compliance measures are critical for ensuring the public sector can harness the cloud\u2019s potential while ensuring the highest level of data protection and system resilience. Here are four benefits:<\/strong><\/p>\n AWS GovCloud is built to handle sensitive unclassified data files. The platform has server-side encryption in Amazon S3, so you can manage and store security keys. You can also limit who has access to sensitive data, when they can access it, where they can access it, and more. The GovCloud region follows security requirements from the Department of Defense<\/a> (DOD), Security Requirements Guide (SRG), Impact levels 4 and 5, FedRAMP, and Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS).<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud can meet various compliance requirements, including, as mentioned a few times above, FedRAMP. It can also handle International Traffic and Arms Regulation (ITAR), HIPAA, CJIS, and DOD needs. This helps take some of the burden off of your team members, allowing government agencies to deploy workloads without needing to get certified themselves.<\/p>\n As with any cloud deployment, GovCloud provides the exact same scalability and flexibility found in non-public sector clouds. For example, its database services, which are secure and compliant, can scale up or down as needed for government agencies to modernize.<\/p>\n Before you get started, you need to know who can use AWS GovCloud \u2013 and who can\u2019t. AWS GovCloud is available to government customers<\/a>, organizations in government-regulated industries, and other commercial organizations that pass a screening process. All customers will have to confirm they\u2019ll use a U.S. green card holder or citizen to manage and access account keys to the region, they are based on U.S. soil, and they can handle ITAR export-controlled data.<\/p>\n To set up your account, you have two options:<\/p>\n Establishing your login is only the first step in your AWS GovCloud setup. As you continue on your journey, there are a few best practices to keep in mind.<\/p>\n Before you implement your cloud deployment<\/a>, there are a few things to keep in mind:<\/strong><\/p>\n If your applications are older, they could present some challenges. It may be difficult to integrate AWS GovCloud with older protocols and security implementations.<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud provides support to customers who have purchased their support package and no one else. Make sure your team purchases the best support plan for your needs.<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud provides you with a subset of AWS tailored to your needs. Some services, however, may not function or be available within GovCloud at all. Make sure you can access all the services you need before deploying.<\/p>\n To comply with specific data residency requirements, AWS GovCloud must store and process data within the U.S. Similarly, anyone accessing AWS GovCloud must physically work in the U.S. and must be a citizen or permanent resident of the country.<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud is a tool that helps you maintain security and compliance. However, it\u2019s a shared responsibility model. Prepare to implement regular security and compliance checks.<\/p>\n As with any cloud platform, you must monitor your AWS GovCloud instance to ensure you don\u2019t go over your budget and keep track of your resources to maintain performance. For example, when considering cost, data transfers between AWS GovCloud and any other regions or non-GovCloud accounts may accrue additional costs.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve thought through all of this, you can create your GovCloud migration strategy, communication plan, and training.<\/strong> The ATF, for example, had to create processes that included a lot of code rewriting (or coding from scratch), database migration, implementing new disaster recovery processes<\/a>, and more.<\/p>\n After their deployment, they can now implement business process improvements<\/a> faster than ever before and shift to testing automation, which couldn\u2019t run on their previous on-premises system.<\/p>\n AWS has several options for support and resources you can access, including customer service and several videos, blogs and guides.<\/p>\n To access customer support, you\u2019ll need to purchase a plan<\/a> using your AWS root account credentials. AWS support will then be available to you based on that plan. Customer service is available all day, every day, also depending on the support tier you\u2019ve purchased. You can also keep track of AWS GovCloud\u2019s status on the Service Health Dashboard<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n Resources include:<\/p>\n Now that we have a solid grasp of the AWS support and resources available to streamline deployment, let\u2019s look at the future of cloud development.<\/p>\n The biggest trend in cloud deployment is the hybrid cloud<\/a>. Almost two-thirds of public sector IT decision-makers expect to increase their use of the cloud by 25 percent in the next five years, making it clear that cloud adoption is not as much of a mad dash as it is in the privacy sector.<\/p>\n The hybrid cloud offers government agencies and contractors the opportunity to dip their toes in the sand without getting wet. In one example, Veterans Affairs (VA)<\/a> recently needed to migrate to the cloud both to improve innovation and free up funding to provide more services to veterans.<\/p>\n While they ultimately implemented AWS GovCloud for their shared services and their Active Directory, they still opted for a hybrid cloud option. Why? Security.<\/strong><\/p>\n The VA houses a lot of sensitive data, including health data. A data breach would devastate the people it serves. The hybrid model also allows for modernization while maintaining some level of caution.<\/p>\n The VA is still saving money and freeing up funding without subscribing to an all-or-nothing mindset.<\/p>\n This example highlights both the benefits of the hybrid cloud model, specifically regarding security and cost savings, and sets a precedent for future cloud strategies in various industries. Now let\u2019s look at how your company can maximize your cloud investment<\/a>.<\/p>\n To ensure you\u2019re making the most out of your cloud deployment, you need to:<\/p>\n Here are a few frequently asked questions about AWS GovCloud:<\/p>\n AWS regions all provide businesses and other organizations with a complete cloud infrastructure platform. However, if you need compliance and extra security, standard AWS won\u2019t work since it might store some of its data outside of the U.S. and with non-US citizens handling it.<\/p>\n Because of the hurdles related to compliance requirements, while most AWS services are available in GovCloud, there might be some limitations.<\/strong> You can find more information here<\/a>.<\/p>\n AWS GovCloud complies with the strictest compliance and regulatory requirements in the U.S. and for businesses encountered by U.S. governments. This includes ITAR, DoD, CJIS, and HIPAA, all of which were mentioned previously, as well as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which protects European Union individuals\u2019 right to privacy.<\/p>\n While AWS GovCloud provides the design and infrastructure to meet these requirements, the agency or business using it must ensure security and compliance.<\/p>\nUnderstanding AWS GovCloud: A Secure Environment for Government and Business Operations<\/h2>\n
\n
Key Benefits of Deploying With AWS GovCloud<\/h2>\n
1. Enhanced Security Features Tailored for Sensitive Data<\/h3>\n
2. Compliance With U.S. Government Regulations and Standards<\/h3>\n
3. Scalability and Flexibility in Cloud Resources<\/h3>\n
Starting Your Journey With AWS GovCloud<\/h2>\n
Option 1:<\/h3>\n
\n
Option 2:<\/h3>\n
\n
Streamlining Deployment: Best Practices and Strategies<\/h2>\n
1. Potential Technical Debt<\/h3>\n
2. Technical Support<\/h3>\n
3. Service Limits<\/h3>\n
4. Data Residency and Restrictions<\/h3>\n
5. Compliance and Security Maintenance<\/h3>\n
6. Cost and Resources<\/h3>\n
Use AWS Support and Resources for Successful Deployment<\/h2>\n
\n
Looking Ahead: The Future of Cloud Deployment with AWS GovCloud<\/h2>\n
Maximizing Your Investment in the Cloud<\/h2>\n
\n
AWS GovCloud Questions to Consider<\/h2>\n
What makes AWS GovCloud different from other AWS regions?<\/h3>\n
How does AWS GovCloud ensure compliance with government regulations?<\/h3>\n
Can businesses not related to the government use AWS GovCloud?<\/h3>\n