Federal agencies face increasing pressure to protect sensitive data amid evolving threats and a growing need for interagency collaboration. VAST Data, combined with Zero Trust principles and NextLabs SkyDRM, delivers an end-to-end, data-centric security strategy that protects government data throughout its lifecycle.
Key Benefits for Federal Organizations
- Zero Trust Approach: Ensures no entity is trusted by default, and all data access is continuously verified, reducing the risk of both insider and external threats.
- Persistent Data Protection with NextLabs SkyDRM: Provides persistent protection that travels with the data, maintaining encryption and granular access control even as information moves beyond federal boundaries or between agencies.
- Regulatory Compliance: Supports compliance with FISMA, NIST, and other federal frameworks through end-to-end encryption, audit trails, and robust access controls.
How VAST Data and NextLabs SkyDRM Enable Zero Trust in Government
This solution operationalizes Zero Trust through four core technical capabilities.
- Data Access Control: Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC), aligned with NIST SP 800-162, governs access by continuously verifying users, devices, and contextual attributes before granting entry.
- Encryption at Rest and in Transit: FIPS 140-3 Level 1-validated encryption protects data across on-premises and cloud environments, in alignment with NIST SP 800-57 and SP 800-175.
- Continuous Monitoring and Logging: Real-time monitoring and SIEM integration enable security teams to detect and respond to suspicious activity, supporting NIST SP 800-137.
- Fine-Grained Data Protection: NextLabs SkyDRM enforces dynamic, revocable usage rights — such as viewing, editing, and sharing — over sensitive data shared across agencies or with contractors.
Use Case: Securing Interagency Collaboration
When agencies need to share sensitive information, the platform enables secure collaboration through four mechanisms:
- Granular Permissions
- Secure External Sharing
- Federated Identity Management
- Seamless Integration
Ensuring Compliance and Control
The combined solution aligns with three major federal compliance frameworks including
- FISMA
- NIST SP 800-53 (Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations)
- NIST SP 800-207 (Zero Trust Architecture)
Securing the Future
VAST Data and NextLabs SkyDRM enable federal agencies to protect sensitive information in a rapidly evolving digital environment. With continuous monitoring, strict access controls, and comprehensive data protection, agencies can collaborate with confidence while maintaining compliance with NIST standards and federal regulations.
To explore more details on the technologies and implementation of ZTA and SkyDRM that enhance federal data security, read the full solution paper.
