A few weeks back we shared some insights from security solutions vendor, McAfee, about the benefits of off the shelf solutions for cloud security, such as the components the Department of Defense uses in its Host Based Security Solutions (HBSS).  Well it turns out that that was just the start of the evolution in this higher order of security is moving to the cloud.

Led by demand from the Department of Defense (DoD) and in response to  continuing pressure from the upper echelons of government IT leadership for agencies to move to the cloud to capitalize on cost savings and mission delivery efficiencies, cloud-ready cyber security solutions are becoming one of the most important items on agencies’ purchasing schedules.

So what should agencies look for when evaluating solutions such as endpoint or a solution like HBSS in the cloud? Here are my thoughts:

• Solutions with strong reputations and meaningful certifications.  McAfee has teamed with Amazon Web Services (AWS) for its offerings.  Why?  Because AWS adheres to the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Cloud Security Model (or CSM) and their  GovCloud (US) Region also became the first-ever cloud service to receive a Provisional Authorization from the DoD for CSM levels 1-5.

• Solutions that have been proven commercially but can be customized to meet the specific requirements of government agencies.  For example, we know that McAfee COTS software that has the ability to detect, monitor and help mitigate threats in the DoD environment. We know it works well commercially and with over five million DoD system implementations it now has a strong track record in agency environments.

• The availability of support, not just for when a zero day or unknown attack occurs, as they inevitability will, but for the service itself.  I include, in this idea of support a vendor with a clear services roadmap and industry partnerships and alliances to ensure a broad view of the cyber security eco system.

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Ken Kartsen is the Vice President for Federal Sales at McAfee.  His thought-provoking articles on cyber security issues facing federal government agencies appear regularly on Federal Technology Insider.  To see what he has to say on other key issues click here…