Microsoft, Layered Tech Launch Cloud-Based Dynamics for Federal Government

It’s never easy meeting the cloud computing requirements set down by any government. But Microsoft and partner Layered Technologies have succeeded in building FISMA-compliant private cloud infrastructure to host Microsoft Dynamics business solutions for U.S. federal government agencies and departments.

The Layered Technologies relationship could be critical for Microsoft, which has been pushing hard against Google Apps in the government market. Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has personally met with CIOs from a range of government agencies, outlining the software giant’s commitment to various compliance mandates.

The Layered Technologies-Microsoft news comes only a few days after HP and Microsoft announced an Office 365 in government win with the Department of Veteran Affairs.

The Federal Information Security Management Act and the National Institute of Standards and Technology security and control standards, both of which Layered Tech has met in its new hosted Microsoft Dynamics Government Cloud infrastructure, are strict and rigorous standards set forth, and with them in place, the channel partner is opening up all kinds of new opportunities within the federal government space.

The Dynamics environment “includes a single-tenancy private cloud with dedicated hardware and physical storage for the tightest security requirements, as well as a federal-only infrastructure environment to take advantage of increased scalability and efficiency and reduced costs associated with public cloud computing.” It fits in nicely with the federal Cloud First mandate.

Besides being a great opportunity for Layered Technologies to bring cloud-based Dynamics to federal agencies, it also provides a new outlet for ISVs serving the federal space to optimize their software in an as-a-service way in a platform that’s already validated for use by federal agencies.

“Government customers can feel confident in a cloud delivery model that meets federal government mandates such as FISMA and the Cloud First policy,” said Amir Capriles, general manager, U.S. public sector for Microsoft Dynamics, in a prepared statement. “This environment allows them to achieve the business benefits of cloud computing while meeting even the most stringent security requirements.”

Why should the private sector have all the benefits, after all? With this new cloud platform, federal agencies can take advantage of the scalability, efficiency gains and reduced costs typically associated with public cloud computing, but within a private and secure cloud. Now Microsoft and Layered Tech just need to take their new infrastructure to the buyers within the government.