The View From NCS Technologies

Secure Desktop Computing for Government

Posted by Katie Callahan on Feb 10, 2017 11:05:02 AM

Modernize Access to Secure Government Networks With SecureView

Many government agencies require the use of communications networks beyond the Internet because of the need for superior privacy and security. Specific networks provide additonal levels of privacy and classified security. Examples of these networks include NIPRNet (private IP network), SIPRNet (classified), and JWICS (top secret). Implementing access can be as simple as using dedicated PCs for specific communications. For a user, multiple hard drives (dedicated to SIPRNet or JWICS, for example) are accessed by a KVM switch. This is common throughout the Department of Defense and in the intelligence community.

An important and emerging trend however, is modernization and simplication of the old network-access model. Today, more and more agencies use multiple guest Virtual Machines (VMs) to access different classification levels. Today, these agencies 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.

Many Government Agencies Have Made the Change to 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 the 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 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