#USA #Herndon #Microsoft #Exostar #CMMC Compliance

Exostar's Enhanced Collaboration with Microsoft

In a significant development for the Defense Industrial Base (DIB), Exostar has announced an expansion of its nearly two-decade-long partnership with Microsoft. This merger aims to enhance the compliance solutions needed to meet the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) established by the Department of Defense (DoD). With CMMC enforcement on the rise, this collaboration couldn't have come at a better time, particularly for defense contractors, their suppliers, and small-to-medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that are pivotal in maintaining defense supply chains.

A Streamlined Approach to CMMC Compliance

Exostar now offers its Microsoft Azure-based CMMC Ready Suite through the Microsoft Marketplace. This is particularly beneficial for over 80,000 DIB members who require immediate access to a complete and purpose-built CMMC solution. The Microsoft Marketplace provides a streamlined procurement model, aligning perfectly with the federal purchasing practices that many primes and contractors already follow. This offers organizations the opportunity to utilize existing Microsoft Azure Consumption Commitments (MACC), simplifying budgets, reducing friction in procurement, and allowing for quicker deployments of integrated Azure-native compliance solutions that are built for security and scalability.

CMMC Maturity Level 2 mandates tight controls over Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), thereby ensuring that organizations efficiently manage the sharing, processing, and storage of sensitive data. Given the complex nature of multi-tier supply chains, the new collaboration emphasizes the necessity of limiting the CUI footprint—an effort aimed at alleviating the burdens associated with CMMC compliance while sustaining collaborative efforts.

Innovative Features of Exostar's CMMC Ready Suite

Exostar's CMMC Ready Suite introduces several innovative features designed to enhance security and ensure compliance:
1. Managed Access Gateway: This integral component facilitates identity management to govern access based on privileges, ensuring that only authorized individuals can access sensitive assets.
2. Exostar Managed on Microsoft 365: This solution fosters a secure collaborative environment within Microsoft Teams, enabling compliant sharing and storing of CUI in a secure enclave.
3. Exostar’s Managed Secure Desktop: The latest addition, supported by Azure Virtual Desktop, allows users to select their devices freely while ensuring a secure, virtual workspace that prioritizes CUI protection and operational resilience.

Leadership Insights

Derrick Reig, Chief Revenue Officer at Exostar, emphasized the importance of this collaboration: “Together, Exostar and Microsoft deliver an end-to-end CMMC solution on Microsoft Azure that's both easy to procure and enable. Our unified approach manages identity, secure collaboration, enclave protection, and managed services, collectively reducing infrastructure complexities and accelerating DIB compliance.”

Chris Barry, President of U.S. Public Sector Industries at Microsoft, remarked on the longstanding relationship, recognizing Exostar's consistent commitment to developing innovative products using Microsoft technology. He stated, “By partnering with Microsoft Marketplace, Exostar is simplifying procurement and speeding up the processes required for businesses to meet their CMMC objectives.