VMware Announces vCloud Government Service

VMware’s (VMW) vCloud Government Service provided by Carpathia has achieved Provisional Authority to Operate through the United States Government’s Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, almost a year after being introduced to partners.

Now that the virtualization giant has received Uncle Sam’s blessing, private sector users are able to utilize VMware’s vSphere-based infrastructure-as-a-service hybrid cloud solution to expand their data center infrastructures.

VMware has been pursuing FEDRAMP authorization for its vCloud Government Service since March, when the company unveiled its plans to provide private sector users with a secure hybrid cloud offering.

The vCloud Government Service runs off of the company’s vSphere 5.5 platform, which is already utilized by all cabinet-level agencies, military services and other private sector agencies, according to the company. VMware said the inherent compatibility between its legacy vSphere infrastructure and vCloud Government Service will allow users to move their workloads between their internal resources and the cloud, meaning current vSphere users won’t have to overhaul their architecture to integrate the new service.

“Much of U.S. government IT runs on VMware virtual infrastructure, and VMware vCloud Government Service provided by Carpathia will enable agencies to extend their infrastructure to the cloud by leveraging the technology and personnel investments they have already made,” said Pat Gelsinger, VMware CEO, in a statement.

“Being able to offer a FedRAMP authorized cloud solution to a market segment with such broad adoption of our vSphere technology is critical to providing Federal organizations the best alternatives as they increasingly turn to cloud computing to reduce costs, expand IT resources and services, and improve service levels to users.”

The new service will incorporate several of VMware’s other solutions, including the VMware NSX network as well as vSphere vMotion, according to the announcement.

VMware said it plans to upgrade its vCloud Government Service to vSphere 6 after the vSphere 6 code becomes generally available later this year. The company unveiled vSphere 6 last week during its annual VMware Partner Exchange in San Francisco.