Security Where It's Needed Most

We are approaching the weekend when most people make at least a few resolutions for the months ahead. Why not resolve for the New Year to implement VDI for more efficient end point security?

Simply put: having a "thin client" strategy is not good enough.  A thin client, a PC with a very small capacity hard drive and minimal local memory, is a halfway measure. A thin client retains some kind of OS, such as Windows Embedded™ or a customized Linux OS. Administrators hope that thin clients will be easier to administer and be lower in cost than traditional PCs. The reality is that by retaining a small OS, however, thin clients may remain more vulnerable to security exploitation and actually add to administrative complexity.

That's why many IT administrators now implement zero clients, which offer the most secure and easy-to-administer VDI option available. Zero clients are the next generation of desktop VDI.

A zero client has no local OS. The operating system resides in the data center. Therefore, there is no persistent user data, no patches, updates or antivirus software needed. 

NCS Technologies is the industry authority on zero clients. Key advantages of zero clients from NCS are:

•          Mobile, portable (WiFi enabled) or desktop choices
•          NSA Suite B security
•          AES-256 encryption
•          No hard drive
•          No OS
•          No local storage
•          No persistent user data
•          No antivirus needed

Data Protection Is Essential Part of Healthcare IT

The 2017 HIMSS annual conference and expo is coming up fast, right after the holidays.

The global event is scheduled for February 19-23 in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center and brings together more than 40,000 health IT professionals, clinicians, executives and ecosystem vendors. Education and the exposure to cutting-edge health IT technology and solutions are hallmarks of this annual conference.

Please join NCS Technologies at Booth #5644 at HIMSS17! Cybersecurity is a big focus on this event. Key focus areas for HIMSS17 include: helping improve an organization's security posture; what the current challenging and dynamic cyber threat landscape looks like today; what are the cutting-edge technologies addressing cybersecurity; and how best to prepare a healthcare organization to defend against cyber threats.

 The New Year Is a Great Time to Become More Efficient

As we rapidly close the books on the calendar year 2016, we find many government analysts and knowledge workers still doing intelligence and DoD work using operating multiple PCs around their desktops.  That is because they must communicate each day using private IP networks at various classified levels and use each PC for a dedicated communications task.

This archaic concept can be rapidly eliminated by implementing government-approved SecureView.

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 the Air Force Research Laborator (AFRL), the open source community, Assured Information Security and NCS.

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.

Many Government Agencies Have Made the Change

Government analysts looking for superior, hardware-enforced computer security are increasingly turning to SecureView. These analysts are tired of running multiple PCs at their desk, having to navigate via a clunky KVM switch.

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 on computers supplied by NCS, HP and Dell. The NCS systems approved for use include the Stratus MT and Stratus DT desktops and the Vortex MT and Vortex MDT workstations.

Protect Healthcare Data

Most of us as individuals or those close to us regularly see doctors and occasionally need hospitalization. With privacy protections from regulations like HIPAA, it may seem a given that our health care records will be protected. But sadly this is not the case. All it takes is the theft of a PC to reveal thousands or even millions of personal records - all of it highly private. As an example, just in one month this year - June - more than 11 million patient records were exposed. In October, St. Joseph Health in Irvine, CA reported it will pay more than $2 million to settle allegations that its network exposed the records of more than 30,000 patients. For the latest data, see breach reports from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

SecureView Created to Address Key Challenges

SecureView is a multi-level virtual platform that allows a user to effortlessly run multiple securely isolated environments on one PC or workstation, with hardware-enforced security. The high-performance virtual platform is made possible by extensive development work by the Air Force Research Laborator (AFRL), the open source community, Assured Information Security and NCS.

SecureView:

• Is a low-cost, multiple-independent levels of security (MILS) workstation-based COTS technology
• Is based on Type 1 or bare metal client hypervisor
• Allows single computer to host multiple guest VMs running at different classification levels
• Addresses a wide variety of use cases

DoD Agencies Are Running SecureView

Government analysts looking for superior, hardware-enforced computer security are increasingly turning to SecureView. These analysts are tired of running multiple PCs at their desk, having to navigate via a clunky KVM switch.

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 on computers supplied by NCS, HP and Dell. The NCS systems approved for use include the Stratus MT and Stratus DT desktops and the Vortex MT and Vortex MDT workstations.

Fully Featured Zero Clients For Every Business Need

With Thanksgiving and the holiday season approaching, everyone is hardwired by the "Black Friday" advertising mentality to be thinking about choices: what are the right products at the best price usable in the most efficient way?

In the area of PC virtualization, the same critcal thinking is useful. For many IT administrators, virtualizing a desktop or laptop seems fairly straightforward: the "right product" has traditionally been a thin client, a PC with a very small capacity hard drive and minimal local memory. A thin client retains some kind of OS, such as Windows Embedded™ or a customized Linus OS. Administrators hope that thin clients will be easier to administer and be lower in cost than traditional PCs. The reality is that by retaining a small OS, however, thin clients may remain more vulnerable to security exploitation and actually add to complexity of IT adminstration.

That's why many now believe that zero clients offer the most secure and easy-to-administer virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) option available. Zero clients are the next generation of desktop VDI.

A zero client has no local OS. The operating system resides in the data center. Therefore, there is no persistent user data, no patches, updates or antivirus software needed. 

NCS Technologies is the industry authority on zero clients. Key advantages of zero clients from NCS are:

•          Mobile, portable or desktop choices
•          NSA Suite B security
•          AES-256 encryption
•          No hard drive
•          No OS
•          No local storage
•          No persistent user data
•          No antivirus needed

Access Multiple Independent Levels of Security

Many government professionals communicate every day using private IP networks of various classified levels. For instance, U.S. Department of Defense and Department of State employees may access the Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet) to transmit classified information (up to and including information classified SECRET). Others may use the NIPRNet (Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network). NIPRNet is used to exchange unclassified but sensitive information between internal users as well as providing users access to the Internet. Additionally users may access JWICS, the Joint Worldwide Intelligence Communications System for Top Secret communications.

While it is not unusual to government professionals using dedicated computers to access these private IP networks, increasingly IT administrators are turning to SecureView to more effectively and efficiently address access issues to these networks.

SecureView is a virtualized platform solution for government professionals who access different classification levels from a single PC device. It is a multi-level virtual platform which allows a user to run multiple securely isolated environments on a single PC or workstation, provide hardware-enforced security and deliver superior virtualization in the most demanding environments.

The SecureView solution is is the result of extensive development work by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), the open source community, Assured Information Security and NCS Technologies.

Zero Client End Points Draws Strong Interest

Modern Day Marine ended Thursday at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, and despite the dreary weather, the huge white pavilions set up on the scenic parade grounds were energizing beehives of activity as visitors sought out information about the latest IT and tactical technologies. The NCS booth in the first pavilion was constantly busy as we showcased of range of innovative IT technologies, including the rugged Bunker XRV-5241 IU short-depth server; a transit case of deployable, end-to-end Virtual Desktop Infrastructure which featured rugged Getac servers and end points; and the comprehensive portfolio of NCS Cirrus zero client desktop and laptop solutions. 

While visitors took an interest in all of our products, it was especially gratifying to see the impressive level of awareness that visitors had about virtualization in general, the VMware ecosystem and the plusses and minuses of thin clients versus zero clients.

Attendees Test Drive Cirrus Family Zero Client End Points

The energy was flowing at an extremely crowded and busy opening day at Modern Day Marine yesterday at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA. NCS is at Booth #1337. The company is showcasing of range of innovative IT technologies, including rugged servers, laptops and workstations; deployable, end-to-end Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions and a comprehensive portfolio of zero client end point solutions. 

Many visitors to our crowded booth wanted to learn more about our Cirrus zero client desktops and laptops, which operate in the VMware ecosystem using Teradici's  PCoIP networking protocol.

Show Opens Tuesday, September 26

Modern Day Marine opens tomorrow through Thursday at Marine Corps Base, Quantico, VA. Marine Corps Base, Quantico is home to Combat Development Command and the Systems Command. These commands are responsible for setting requirements, developing equipment and systems and purchasing equipment.

NCS is at Booth #1337. The company is promoting of range of innovative IT technologies.

Among a broad range of innovative IT solutions, at Booth #1337, NCS will be demonstrating deployable Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) solutions and a comprehensive portfolio of zero client end point solutions.