Today’s business world devotes significant resources to data—specifically to accumulating, analyzing, and safeguarding critical information. Organizations must use high-quality data storage and processing equipment to meet operational requirements.
However, finding the right hardware and software in an overcrowded marketplace remains a complex and challenging task.
There is a way through this maze of choices, however. By selecting hardware and software used in military and government applications, you ensure that your data storage systems meet the most cutting-edge performance requirements.
That’s because these GSA-contracted and SEWP-contracted products aren’t simply random off-the-shelf merchandise, nor are they solely for governmental use. Private companies manufacture these products and must comply with strict rules and regulations to maintain their status as government suppliers. A company earns approval for governmental applications only after it passes these stringent tests.
The U.S. government relies on the General Services Administration (GSA) to regulate the acquisition of goods and services for federal agencies. The GSA awards contracts to companies that meet its standards. Information technology products typically fall under a specialized contract called Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP).
For today’s enterprises, GSA- and SEWP-contracted NAS devices offer the best solutions for their data management needs. To understand why, businesses must recognize NAS’s growing role and the need for highly reliable data management systems.
How Modern Organizations Use Network-Attached Storage (NAS)
NAS storage is a highly effective solution for managing and providing access to unstructured data. It offers secure storage while ensuring easy accessibility. For many organizations, NAS strikes a practical balance between two alternatives. Direct attached storage (DAS) depends on a single device, limiting scalability. On the other hand, a storage area network (SAN) demands a much larger investment in hardware and office space. NAS avoids these extremes, making it an appealing choice.
As a result, NAS storage is popular with many types of users. Mid-sized businesses often choose NAS for its reliability. It is also a preferred solution for individuals who need a dependable way to store and protect their data..
Common applications for NAS storage include but are not limited to the following:
Military
Military aircraft and platforms have found NAS an increasingly useful alternative to traditional direct attached storage solutions. One of the main advantages of NAS in a military context is its ability to reduce size, weight, and power (SWaP) footprints. This is achieved by using a single storage device instead of multiple installations. In addition, NAS storage capacity can be easily expanded when needed. These considerations are especially important for military aircraft that are subject to extremely strict weight requirements.
More portable than DAS solutions, NAS devices are easier to remove from aircraft and platforms that are not in operation. NAS also simplifies software configuration processes by enabling an entire craft or platform to boot directly from a single device.
Healthcare
Hospitals and other healthcare industry participants are beset by a number of chronic operational problems. For example, healthcare organizations must store and secure protected health information (PHI). Cybercriminals aggressively target this data because it contains detailed personal records. Criminals routinely target healthcare organizations, and poor funding combined with limited access to up-to-date data security worsens the problem.
Healthcare organizations must also comply with federal privacy laws that govern the handling of PHI. The best-known laws are HIPAA and HITECH. HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. HITECH stands for the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act.
NAS offers a cost-effective security solution for cash-strapped healthcare organizations. Most large hospitals use SAN solutions. However, many mid-sized organizations are turning to NAS. NAS effectively manages large amounts of data across multiple facilities.
Forensics
Forensic analysis often takes place “in the field.” NAS devices have greatly expanded the options available to professionals in this industry. Portable NAS systems allow forensic teams to bring laboratory-grade analytic tools virtually anywhere. Once deployed, these devices can collect and preserve digital evidence. This includes file fragments, deleted files, and browser artifacts. NAS devices ensure evidence is handled in compliance with court-required chain-of-custody protocols.
Enterprise level
One of the main advantages of NAS systems is scalability. This type of storage offers flexible solutions for organizations of all sizes. It works for sole proprietorships as well as large multinational corporations with a global presence.
You can easily expand storage space without adding hardware or shutting down the network.
NAS also meets the high-performance needs of enterprise organizations. It enables the transmission of large multimedia files and supports massive storage capacity. At the same time, it protects data integrity through RAID configurations and other redundancy safeguards.
This overview only touches on the many uses of NAS. Countless organizations rely on network-attached storage as the best solution for managing their data.
The Critical Importance of NAS
Organizations value NAS-based applications not just for their convenience and cost-effectiveness but also for their role in mission-critical services across healthcare, military, and business sectors.
In healthcare, NAS systems are responsible for storing massive amounts of data relating to patient history, such as diagnostic tests, x-ray images, and prescribed medications. Staff must always have immediate access to this data, as delays in retrieving information can worsen emergency situations—for example, a patient might accidentally receive a medication they are allergic to based on past records.
This is one of the primary reasons why cybercriminals frequently target hospitals with ransomware attacks—they know these organizations cannot afford lengthy downtime.
In the military, NAS systems play an important role in storing sensitive information. Aside from encrypting data effectively, military NAS devices also must conform to precise specifications and physical characteristics in order to avoid decreased performance or downtime.
In business, NAS systems are entrusted with storing vast amounts of customer data. This data needs to be carefully protected. A number of laws require businesses to safeguard personally identifiable information—such as credit card numbers—and impose large financial penalties on companies that fail to comply. Furthermore, data breaches—often the result of inadequate or outdated data infrastructure—can severely damage a company’s reputation and, by extension, its revenues.
In order to function effectively, NAS solutions should ideally provide all of the following capabilities:
Continuous uptime – The data stored within NAS systems must be accessible on demand. For some applications, this means 24/7 uptime.
Data security – Organizations must properly encrypt data—AES 256 is the standard today—to prevent unauthorized parties from viewing it.
Data integrity – You must maintain data in its intended state without introducing errors and protect it against accidental deletion or loss.
Physical security – Manufacturers must “ruggedize” NAS devices to withstand incidental physical contact and jostling, which is especially important for military applications. Physical security also requires safeguarding the device against intentional intrusions with features like locks and gates.
Why It Pays to Be Selective When Choosing NAS Devices
NAS systems carry many responsibilities, and failures can cause catastrophic consequences for organizations depending on them. In critical sectors like military and healthcare, inadequate NAS systems can even lead to fatalities.
If you plan to invest in a NAS system, always select first-rate products that deliver the outlined benefits.
The best approach is to choose certified products that meet the highest performance standards.
Military applications demand the most extensively tested network-attached devices.
Ciphertex SecureNAS® belongs to this elite group of rigorously tested devices and accessories.
NAS devices certified for military use are not limited to that sector—far from it. Many industries and privately or publicly owned businesses use “milspec” NAS devices and systems. These organizations value such devices because manufacturers test them against the military’s rigorous standards for data security and physical durability.
Products officially designated as “military-approved” earn that status through performance, not marketing hype—if this hardware or software fails to meet required standards, the authorities revoke their certification.
GSA-Approved Products
In the U.S. military, the General Services Administration (GSA) manages all product acquisitions, spending over $30 billion annually on a wide range of goods and services. Although the military can purchase from virtually any company, the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) requires federal agencies to prioritize organizations listed in the GSA Schedules Program.
The Program—also called the Federal Supply Schedule or the Multiple Award Schedule Program—lists qualified vendors that can provide one or more of every type of product or service that the military might need to acquire, from toothbrushes to laptop repair.
Every contractor in the GSA Schedules Program must submit an “Authorized Federal Supply Schedule Pricelist” detailing all the supplies, services, and associated costs they offer. It is from this pricelist that federal agencies select the goods and services they wish to acquire.
GSA contracts use indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) terms, allowing agencies to acquire as many items or services as needed within a specific time frame.
A company that earns a GSA Schedule Contract has the right to sell goods and services to federal agencies as well as state and local governments—an enviable position for any business. These vendors can bill themselves as “GSA Approved.” However, companies must work hard to earn this distinction.
They must also complete a lengthy due diligence process before the GSA awards them a Schedule Contract.
This process includes not only an analysis of the quality of the goods and services in question but also a determination of prices, warranties, delivery terms, and other conditions attached to the transactions.
The company itself must also comply with various requirements, such as a manufacturing presence in the U.S. and a proven track record of providing high-quality products in the commercial marketplace. To be designated as a “Responsible Prospective Contractor”—a precondition for becoming GSA Approved—a business must be able to prove the following:
- Adequate financial resources
- A satisfactory performance record (generally at least two years of strong sales)
- A demonstrated commitment to integrity and ethics in business
- The technical and organizational capacity to provide contracted products and services
The approval process for GSA contracts is quite rigorous and can take up to a full year to complete. In many cases, finalizing the contract requires multiple rounds of revisions and negotiations with a Contracting Officer.
The effect of a GSA Schedule Contract is to enormously simplify and streamline the ordering process. Federal agencies that need to purchase laptops, for example, can skip negotiating terms and conditions because the GSA has already arranged them in advance. They can also verify that all ordered products comply with governmental regulations
GSA Schedule Contracts can be valid for as long as twenty years (generally an initial five-year term, plus three five-year extensions). These are all reasons why a GSA-Approved product is highly sought-after, even in the private sector.
GSA Schedule 70 is the section devoted to IT products and services. It covers more than 7.5 million products and services offered by more than 4,600 vendors. However, Schedule 70 does not always include every product or service that an agency requires. Sometimes it is necessary to resort to an alternative option known as Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP).
Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP)
Solutions for Enterprise-Wide Procurement (SEWP) is the best-known contract for IT products and services in the federal government. NASA administers SEWP, giving agencies access to top-tier technology, including information, communications, and audio-visual products.
Since its creation in 1993, SEWP has helped federal agencies acquire IT solutions quickly and cost-effectively. Agencies can purchase complex IT solutions in a single order, unlike GSA contracts that often require separate orders. Like GSA contracts, SEWP follows an indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity (IDIQ) structure.
At present, more than 3 million products and services from over 8,000 manufacturers are available through the SEWP program, and the catalog is regularly expanded and updated. The current SEWP contract (SEWP V) went into effect on May 1, 2015 and will expire on April 30, 2025.
SEWP can be used to purchase many types of IT products and services, including but not limited to:
- Data storage systems
- Mobile devices
- Desktops
- Cloud services
- Audio-visual devices
- Telecommunications devices
- Video conferencing systems
- Servers
- Hardware peripherals
Through SEWP, federal agencies gain confidence that the products and solutions they acquire meet the most up-to-date standards. Like GSA-approved vendors, companies participating in SEWP must pass a thorough vetting process and continuously keep pace with technological advancements and current trends to maintain their status.
The Enterprise Connection
Companies looking for first-rate enterprise IT solutions should turn to companies that have a record of providing GSA- and SEWP-contracted products and services. The reason for this is simple: Companies that sell to the federal government must comply with the highest standards recognized anywhere. These types of IT products are often entrusted with the storage and processing of extremely sensitive data, so they must be able to perform reliably.
These organizations must not only offer top-notch solutions but also demonstrate a commitment to sound business practices—the vetting process is designed in part to filter out “fly by night” companies whose long-term viability is questionable. Therefore, a company that adheres to the practices required to maintain GSA and SEWP approval can be said to have achieved best-in-class status among the business community.
How Ciphertex® Maintains GSA Compliance
Just as GSA approval is not easily given, it is also not easily maintained. GSA-Approved companies must undergo yearly audits to ensure continuing compliance with the exacting requirements mandated for equipment and services intended for military usage.
As a GSA-Approved company, Ciphertex® participates in these annual audits, which include various types of inspections to ensure that our warehousing, engineering, and administration procedures adhere to current regulations. These audits include the following stages:
- Verifying our use of designated administrators for all relevant company functions, such as contract administration.
- Verifying the use of proper documentation in quality-control procedures, as well as a dedicated administrator responsible for overseeing QC.
- Verifying the quality of our products by various tests.
This last step requires Ciphertex® to demonstrate that our products conform to the most up-to-date standards in our industry and have implemented all necessary upgrades to maintain this status. Ciphertex SecureNAS® storage products—dubbed “The Fort Knox of Data Depositories”—come with an array of GSA-compliant features, such as:
- Rugged Portable Design (Environmental Test Lab Certified)
- FIPS 140-2 Level 3 Certification
- NIST 800-88 Compliance
- AES-256 Encryption
- HIPAA Compliance
- Hardware Encryption Key
- Key Management
- Multi-Factor Authentication
All these features add up to a state-of-the-art data storage solution that has been entrusted to safeguard the most confidential levels of governmental and military data. The same qualities that make Ciphertex SecureNAS® the preferred choice of government agencies also make it suitable for a broad range of applications in the private sector as well. The Ciphertex SecureNAS® has been tested rigorously over a period of years and has been found to be more than capable of performing optimally under challenging operating conditions.
The Ciphertex® Advantage
Ciphertex® is not the only company that supplies GSA- and SEWP-contracted equipment to the U.S. government, but we offer a number of benefits that many other companies at this level cannot match. These benefits include:
One-on-one customer service – When you call Ciphertex®, you can talk to a computer engineering expert with years of experience.
Guaranteed products – We can fix your Ciphertex® products if they fail to perform as intended or give you a refund.
Customized solutions – If you’re not satisfied with the off-the-shelf solutions that are currently available, we’ll work with you to devise a custom product that meets your particular business needs.
A long-term partnership with customers – With over a decade of experience, Ciphertex® has a lengthy track record of providing top-notch solutions and helping customers get the most out of their purchases. You can count on us to be here when you need us.
The Ciphertex SecureNAS® is currently used by many hospitals, law enforcement agencies, and many other types of organizations around the U.S. We also provide RAID systems, rackmount servers, and custom software encryption solutions to businesses in a wide range of industries, including the military, government, healthcare, remote office, forensics, and entertainment/media sectors. Feel free to contact us with any questions you have about the SecureNAS® or any of our other products.