Accessing email only from the office has become a thing of the past. With mobile technology growing by leaps and bounds, so does the need for employers and employees to stay connected, from any place, at any time. As a result, more and more organizations are transitioning to a cloud-based email model to make messaging systems available to a more mobile and flexible workforce while simultaneously reducing costs.
With that said, Microsoft has rolled out its cloud services at precisely the right time. In fact, Office 365 has become the first Email-as-a-Service (EaaS) to gain FedRAMP authority to operate (ATO) cloud services for the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General.
In a Federal Times article, details regarding the ATO were shared:
“Microsoft’s authorization with HHS OIG makes Office 365 the first cloud based email and collaboration service to obtain a FedRAMP authorization,” said Matt Goodrich, acting FedRAMP director at the General Services Administration. “Microsoft worked with the HHS OIG and the FedRAMP PMO to demonstrate Office 365’s adherence to the stringent FedRAMP security requirements that are critical for U.S. government adoption of cloud services.”
Under the single EaaS umbrella, “all of the operating and staffing divisions will be able to unify systems, enabling employees to collaborate across each department more efficiently and effectively,” Vice President of Microsoft Federal Greg Myers said. “As an example, when public health outbreaks and emergencies occur, many disparate operating divisions of HHS are involved in the response efforts. While these operating divisions have different missions and responsibilities, much of the data, correspondence and activities are similar.”
“We are very excited to support HHS in its move to the cloud and to help them to better serve the American people,” InfoReliance Executive Vice President Eric Olson said. “This is a notable achievement in our five year investment in cloud services and an exciting win for our rapidly expanding Health IT practice.”
For more information regarding this topic, consult the following links:
Article: Microsoft 365 First Cloud Email To Gain FedRAMP Approval
Office 365: Stay In Sync With Business-Class Email
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