The View From NCS Technologies

Secure Desktop Computing for Every Season

Posted by Katie Callahan on Mar 10, 2017 4:14:35 PM

Secure Government Networks With SecureView

The middle of March is one of those periods when planning for unusually warm to unusually cold weather is a real possibility. When putting together a secure government desktop computing plan the same strategy applies: prepare for any scenario. In truth, security breakdowns occur in many ways.

That's why many government agencies require the use of communications networks beyond the security protections offered by the standard Internet connection. Specific networks, as needed, provide additonal levels of privacy and classified security. Examples of these networks include NIPRNet (private IP network), SIPRNet (classified), and JWICS (top secret). Many government analysts still access a specific network using a dedicated PC for that network.

An important and emerging trend however, is modernization through virtualization. More and more agencies use multiple guest Virtual Machines (VMs) to access different classification levels. Many are turning to SecureView, developed by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL).SecureView, the multi-level virtual platform, allows a user to run multiple securely isolated environments on one PC or workstation, with hardware-enforced security. Designed for high-performance, power users, SecureView is the result of extensive development work by AFRL, the open source community, Assured Information Security and NCS Technologies.

SecureView is a low-cost, multiple-independent-levels of security (MILS) workstation-based-COTS technology which is based on Type 1 or bare metal client hypervisor. It allows single computer-to-host multiple-guest VMs running at different classification levels.

Harware-Enforced Security

Government analysts looking for superior, hardware-enforced computer security are increasingly turning to SecureView. These analysts are tired of the inefficiencies of running multiple PCs.

SecureView provides local application execution and concurrent access to multiple security domains. This supports mission requirements, giving analysts the needed performance to run advanced applications, assess threats and share findings across agencies. At last count some 17 Department of Defense-affiliated agencies have deployed the SecureView platform. The NCS Technologies systems approved for use include the Stratus MT and Stratus DT desktops and the Vortex MT and Vortex MDT workstations.

NCS is the leader in SecureView

From a vendor perspective, NCS is a natural home for SecureView expertise.

SecureView 2.1 is available and NCS products will support any memory and processing power requireed for the heavy workloads associated with running many VMs. The NCS development team works extremely closely with component vendors to optimize our hardware solutions - Vortex and Stratus computers -  for SecureView implementations in government. NCS will deliver the exact form-factor needed, right up to full tower dual processor workstations. 

Please browse our homepage to learn more about NCS SecureView solutions, or simply download this handy brochure.

Download the SecureView Brochure

 

Topics: SecureView, virtualization