Enterprise cloud PLM is getting one step closer

When you present about “cloud” and “PLM” topic, the question of security was always the one on the top.For many years, it was such a nice way for IT to steer the conversation in the wrong direction. The tone and argument have changed significantly for the last 5-6 years. Many PLM companies introduced their cloud PLM systems. The cloud is raising with a dramatic speed. Read more about coming  PLM cloud transformation and internet trends 2017. According to the last research “integration” (and not security) is actually holding back cloud PLM adoption. Even so, you can also spot that “security question” during cloud PLM presentations.

Few days ago, my attention was caught by the news coming from Amazon – AWS Now Authorized For Sensitive US Department Of Defense Data. So, what does it mean? Here is the passage from the article that shed some lights on the topic:

“This further bolsters AWS as an industry leader in helping support the DoD’s critical mission in protecting our security. The AWS services support a variety of DoD workloads, including workloads containing sensitive controlled unclassified information (CUI) and National Security Systems (NSS) information.”

The following page on AWS can give you a comprehensive information about what AWS is offering. Navigate to AWS website dedicated to DoD. You can find all information you need here.

A growing number of military customers are adopting AWS’ utility-based cloud services to process, store, and transmit Department of Defense (DoD) data.

AWS enables military organizations and their business associates to leverage the secure AWS environments to process, maintain, and store DoD data. AWS has attained provisional authorizations from the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA).

AWS maintains two environments covered by DoD Provisional Authorizations: the US East and US West Regions and the AWS GovCloud (US) Region (for more details see the FAQ below): 1/ US East/West holds a DoD Impact Level (IL) 2 Provisional Authorization. The covered AWS services within US East/West that are already in scope of the DoD SRG IL2 authorization boundary can be found within AWS Services in Scope by Compliance Program. 2/ AWS GovCloud (US) holds DoD Provisional Authorizations at Impact Level 2, 4 and 5. The covered AWS services within GovCloud (US) that are already in scope of the DoD SRG IL2, IL4 and IL5 authorization boundary can be found within AWS Services in Scope by Compliance Program.

What is my conclusion? As I expected AWS is investing a lot of resources to bring cloud service, computing and storage infrastructure to comply with requirements of government agencies. My hunch is that it will come to most restrictive companies such aerospace and defense sooner then later. So, whoever developed cloud-based solutions together got a big performance booth by making AWS compliant to one of the most restrictive sources of information. Enterprise PLM cloud is getting real. Just my thoughts…

Best, Oleg

Want to learn more about PLM? Check out my new PLM Book website.

Disclaimer: I’m co-founder and CEO of openBoM developing cloud based bill of materials and inventory management tool for manufacturing companies, hardware startups and supply chain. My opinion can be unintentionally biased.