The News: Zoom for Government, Zoom’s platform designed for federal agencies, recently achieved Provisional Authorization at Impact Level 4 (IL4). This level allows controlled unclassified information to be communicated over the Zoom for Government platform, enabling the use of Zoom by the DoD, its agencies, and approved contractors. Read the full statement from Zoom here.
Zoom for Government Earns Provisional IL4 Authorization from Department of Defense
Analyst Take: The new level of authorization achieved by Zoom for Government is a promising step forward for Zoom’s ability to provide a secure communication channel for collaboration at every level of the government and beyond. Just as in many other organizations, the Department of Defense’s use of videoconferencing has risen dramatically since the onset of the pandemic. As the subsequent increase in remote or hybrid working conditions continues to impact organizations, continuous attention to and improvements in security as it relates to collaboration and video conferencing platforms is, I believe, critically important.
And of course, in the case of the Department of Defense and its agencies, there is a clear and pressing need for a high level of security when utilizing platforms such as Zoom for Government. Enabling our federal agencies to efficiently collaborate across secure digital platforms enhances their ability to do their important work and increases our security as a nation. In addition to the DoD, the largest of the U.S. federal agencies, Zoom for Government is used by state and local governments as well as their approved contractors, making this authorization an impactful achievement across all levels of government.
A Big Win for Zoom and Cybersecurity
Zoom has had its share of knocks as it relates to the security of its platform over the course of the last few years, and it’s clear the company learned from some early missteps and redoubled its efforts on the security front. This is important because for many, Zoom is the go to platform of choice for a variety of reasons, including benefits like ease of use, enhanced functionality, and cost, to name just a few.
The ability to share information, communicate, and collaborate without fear of intrusion is vital to our collective success — both from a business standpoint and on a personal level, and the security of a collaboration platform is even more crucial for government entities. Zoom’s achievement, Provisional Authorization at Impact Level 4 (IL4) is very significant, facilitating the safe communication of controlled unclassified information to be communicated over the Zoom for Government platform, opening the door for use by the DoD, its agencies, and approved contractors. It’s a massive win for Zoom and one I’m very glad to see.
Disclosure: Futurum Research is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of Futurum Research as a whole.
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The original version of this article was first published on Futurum Research.
Shelly Kramer is a Principal Analyst and Founding Partner at Futurum Research. A serial entrepreneur with a technology centric focus, she has worked alongside some of the world’s largest brands to embrace disruption and spur innovation, understand and address the realities of the connected customer, and help navigate the process of digital transformation. She brings 20 years' experience as a brand strategist to her work at Futurum, and has deep experience helping global companies with marketing challenges, GTM strategies, messaging development, and driving strategy and digital transformation for B2B brands across multiple verticals. Shelly's coverage areas include Collaboration/CX/SaaS, platforms, ESG, and Cybersecurity, as well as topics and trends related to the Future of Work, the transformation of the workplace and how people and technology are driving that transformation. A transplanted New Yorker, she has learned to love life in the Midwest, and has firsthand experience that some of the most innovative minds and most successful companies in the world also happen to live in “flyover country.”