7 Best Practices for Designing an Azure GCC High Environment
Safeguarding data is an essential process for any organization, regardless of data type. Still, some kinds of data require special handling and management, such as information collected and stored by the U.S. government. Unfortunately, threat actors and state-sponsored attacks are part of today’s norm, so entities processing regulated or sensitive data need to take extra precautions.
Protecting sensitive and classified data is a critical component for any entity doing business internally or in conjunction with the U.S. government. To support this mission, Microsoft has developed Government Community Cloud High (GCC High) in Azure as a cloud solution with the highest level of security and compliance in mind.
This blog will guide you through the best practices for designing and implementing a secure, compliant and efficient Azure GCC High environment, along with tips on how to leverage the platform’s features to meet strict regulatory requirements for government-affiliated organizations handling sensitive data.
Understanding GCC High
Azure GCC High cloud is a platform designed by Microsoft for government entities and the cleared personnel and businesses supporting them. Developed as a separate cloud apart from the commercial cloud, GCC High ensures data sovereignty because the data is hosted in data centers located in the U.S. and only U.S.-based cleared Microsoft personnel are allowed access.
The result is the tech giant creating a highly secured network environment in the cloud that is tailored to adhere to the government’s stringent regulatory requirements. Not everyone can get the ability to house and manage data in GCC High.
Who Can Use GCC High?
Every entity wanting to utilize GCC High must be approved and validated by Microsoft before being granted access. Only select groups will be approved.
- Federal government entities
- State or local government entities
- Tribal entities
- Regional or interstate government entities (cannot be international)
- Federally Funded Research and Development Center
- Contractors or individuals working with the above entities
What are the Eligibility Requirements for GCC High?
Aside from being in a group permitted to use GCC High, to pursue validation, they must meet the following GCC High requirements for eligibility.
- Provide necessary documentation for eligibility
- Demonstrate U.S. control or location
- Possess a valid requirement for handling sensitive data as a Category 3 entity (e.g., CUI)
- Obtain GCC High licenses for the organization using GCCH
Not all organizations contracting with the U.S. government will need a GCC High plan. Contractors managing unclassified data can possibly go with the less expensive GCC or a Microsoft 365 government pricing plan.
What Data Types Require GCC High?
To determine whether you need access to GCC High, look at the types of data your organization manages. The following data types require GCC High to meet the U.S. government’s stringent compliance rules and regulations.
- Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and any subcategories
- International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR)
- Department of Defense, Impact Level 4 or higher (DOD IL)
- Criminal Justice Information (CJI/CJIS)
- Covered Defense Information (CDI)
- Department of Defense Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (DOD UCNI)
- Department of Energy Unclassified Controlled Nuclear Information (DOE UCNI)
- North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)
Additionally, important to know – in October 2024, a new rule was set by DoD regarding its Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Program (CMMC). The final rule just went into effect on December 16. As a result of this rule, government contractors and subcontractors must now meet additional cybersecurity requirements through self-assessments, third-party assessments and government certifications. Expect this requirement to likely be added to government contracts throughout 2025.
What does this mean regarding GCC High? If you handle data under the CMMC umbrella, it will be likely it’ll eventually be added to the above list for GCC High requirements, so you’ll likely want to plan for this possibility.
Businesses supporting the Department of Defense (DoD) and other entities handling sensitive data should reassess their data type handling and management if they are already working on a contract or planning to bid on contracts involving the above types of data to see if they need GCC High compliance levels.
1. Initial Planning for GCC High
Before going forward with pursuing validation, you want to analyze your current infrastructure, the type of data your organization handles, evaluate the federal regulations you need to be in compliance with (e.g., FedRAMP High, CJIS or ITAR) and whether you need GCC High.
- Sensitivity of the data your business handles
- Industry regulations and compliance rules your company is bound to comply with
- Contractual obligations related to safeguarding data
Once you understand your organizational requirements, data classification and compliance needs, then you can likely move forward with pursuing access to the more secure Azure GCC High environment.
Planning for Data Migration
As a part of your initial planning, you will want to develop a comprehensive data migration plan. This plan should be well-documented and outline how your business will securely migrate data to the GCC High cloud environment.
How this will occur won’t be the same from organization to organization, but it might include phased migrations or a need to utilize specialized tools to keep data secure and maintain its integrity. Compatibility should also be evaluated – your business might need to make modifications to successfully complete the migration.
2. Obtaining Validation for GCC High
If, after analyzing your business processes, you’ve concluded you probably need to use GCC High design principles to safely and securely manage your data, you will then need to get approval from Microsoft. This involves a few steps.
- Requesting validation from Microsoft
- Providing documentation to prove eligibility (e.g., signed contractor or sponsor letter)
- Work with an approved Microsoft partner to obtain GCC High licensing
While the process is straightforward, it’s not always easy to do. You’ll need to identify a partner that is approved by Microsoft to handle administrative details. Your best bet is to proactively consult with an experienced professional who is a certified AOS-G Partner who can explain the process and, if you need GCC High for a contract, they’ll guide you through the validation, transition and migration processes.
3. Environment Design
Once you’re onboard and preparing for your company’s migration to GCC High, you’ll want to consider best practices for structuring subscriptions, resource groups and workloads to ensure compliance and operational efficiency.
- Assess current infrastructure, including hardware, software and data systems, to identify vulnerabilities and compatibility with GCC High
- Evaluate current infrastructure to identify any compliance gaps
- Make certain all systems and software meet the minimum security requirements outlined by GCC High
- Reevaluate protocols and policies for data handling and access control for data to ensure they are up-to-date and in compliance
If you find any gaps or weaknesses, now is the time to rectify them. Your AOS-G Partner can provide guidance and offer suggestions on how to resolve any issues and make sure your sensitive information is adequately protected.
4. Security Configurations
As your company implements GCC High, it’s imperative it follows proper security measures, including role-based access control (RBAC), encryption, virtual network design, encryption protocols, security audit procedures, employee training for cybersecurity and monitoring tools, such as Azure Security Center. This is another area your AOS-G Partner can assist in bringing your business up to speed on the best security configurations and establishing a better overall improved security posture.
5. Compliance Alignment
Companies contracted with the U.S. government to deliver mission-specific deliverables or to perform other vital tasks to help government entities reach their objectives are held accountable to compliance requirements. To ensure compliance with standards such as FedRAMP High, ITAR, CJIS and DFARs, best practices include:
- Keeping meticulous records to have accurate documentation
- Implement robust data protection measures
- Perform due diligence on partners and customers
- Carefully vet employees
- Establish strict access controls with regard to sensitive and classified data
- Put good auditing practices with compliance in mind
- Train employees in compliance practices for specific requirements (e.g., FedRAMP)
- Obtain any necessary licenses
Additionally, you should also put into place procedures to consistently monitor your environments for any potential compliance issues that could emerge. The importance of regular audits, updates and training for staff to maintain the environment’s integrity over time cannot be understated.
6. Performance Optimization
Once your organization migrates to GCC High, it will be important to maintain performance to ensure the system is optimized for productivity and efficiency. This includes workload distribution, cost management and resource monitoring. Another important factor to consider is scalability and making note of areas you may need to add or delete services.
7. Common Pitfalls
During this process, you want to avoid common pitfalls so you do not inadvertently expose data or violate compliance regulations. Being aware of common pitfalls can help you cross the finish line without incident.
- Underestimating the complexity associated with a migration to GCC High
- Failing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities and take proactive steps against them
- Not doing sufficient testing before and after the migration process for issues like compatibility, security and performance
- Not fostering communication and collaboration between IT and administrative teams
- Failing to identify the right AOS-G Partner to help you through the process
When designing or managing an Azure GCC High environment, your organization is bound to encounter complex issues, but growing your organization’s knowledge and being proactive is your best approach.
Best Practices
Before and after the execution process, you will want to follow best practices to ensure a seamless transition.
Before Execution
- Back up all critical data and applications so you have a copy if any data is lost or corrupted during the transition process
- Determine the best ways to configure and deploy services
- Set up user accounts, establish security settings and do proper configurations
After Execution
- Test the migration after completing the process to identify any potential issues and implement fixes
- Monitor the new environment and check for any unexpected issues or errors
- Keep all security measures up to date and stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities and exploits
- Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
- Review compliance regulations on a regular basis and update policies when necessary to ensure the continuance of meeting GCC High standards.
- Make certain employees have regular training and support
- Perform routine security audits to ensure data security and compliance continue to remain within GCC High environments
- Create and maintain an incident response plan – review at least annually and make changes where needed to ensure it is up to date in the event of a cybersecurity incident to minimize damages
- Leverage advanced threat protection to ensure your company has the highest level of security to preserve and safeguard sensitive data
Summary
Microsoft GCC High is the perfect solution for businesses seeking to maintain or be awarded government contracts. This segregated cloud product offered by Microsoft is a critical component of an operational framework when working with government data.
Threat actors and state-sponsored cyberattacks are the norm, and their attacks are getting more sophisticated each year. To provide additional layers of protection, GCC High delivers a way to keep the bad guys away from sensitive and classified data while empowering companies to fulfill the U.S. government’s objectives.
Are You Migrating Your Business to Microsoft GCC High?
Whether your company needs to update its existing GCC High infrastructure or is ready to begin the process of getting validation and establishing itself with a GCCH framework, Red River’s team of experts can assist in bringing your business to where it needs to be in terms of security and compliance.
We are an approved AOS-G Partner with Microsoft and are very skilled in this area of technology. Furthermore, our team is well-versed in federal regulations and compliance rules including, but not limited to CMMC, ITAR, DFARS, FedRAMP and CJIS Policy. These issues are complex, and we will walk you through every step of the way.
Red River prides itself on its high level of customer service and ability to deliver customized solutions for government agencies and contractors. To learn what we can do for you, contact us today to schedule a consultation. We are happy to discuss Microsoft GCC High pricing, along with the steps you need to take to get validated and bring your business to the GCC High cloud.