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When a government subcontractor is seeking a Managed Service Provider (MSP) for Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud (GCC) High, there are specific criteria and considerations to keep in mind. The GCC High environment is designed to meet the stringent compliance requirements of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies, so it’s essential to choose an MSP that understands and can navigate this unique environment.

Here are some key considerations and criteria to look for in ANY MSP (and yes, Agile IT is aligned to these):

  1. Compliance and Certifications:

    • FedRAMP: Ensure the MSP has Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) accreditation. This ensures they understand the requirements for cloud services used by federal agencies.
    • NIST SP 800-171: Ensure they are compliant with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-171, which covers protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems.

  2. Experience with GCC High: The MSP should have a proven track record of deploying, managing, and supporting Microsoft 365 GCC High environments.

  3. Security Expertise: Given the sensitive nature of the data, the MSP should have a strong focus on security, including:

    • Regular security audits and assessments.
    • Proactive monitoring for threats and vulnerabilities.
    • Incident response capabilities.

  4. Data Sovereignty: Ensure the MSP understands the importance of data sovereignty and can guarantee that data remains within the U.S., as required by GCC High.

  5. Migration Expertise: If you’re transitioning from another environment, the MSP should have experience in migrating data and applications to GCC High without data loss or downtime.

  6. Training and Support: The MSP should offer training for your staff on the GCC High environment and provide robust support, including a dedicated account manager or support team familiar with your setup.

  7. Service Level Agreements (SLAs): Ensure the MSP offers SLAs that match your organization’s needs, especially in terms of uptime, response times, and resolution times.

  8. Customization and Integration: The MSP should be capable of customizing the GCC High environment to suit your needs and integrate with other tools or systems you use.

  9. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Ensure the MSP offers robust backup and disaster recovery solutions, especially given the critical nature of government data.

  10. Transparent Pricing: The MSP should provide clear and transparent pricing, with no hidden fees. They should also be willing to discuss and negotiate terms that suit your organization’s budget and

  11. Continuous Monitoring and Reporting: The MSP should offer continuous monitoring of your environment and provide regular reports on performance, security, and compliance.

  12. Innovation and Future-Proofing: As technology and compliance requirements evolve, the MSP should demonstrate a commitment to staying updated and ensuring your environment remains compliant and efficient.

In conclusion, when selecting an MSP for Microsoft 365 GCC High, it’s crucial to prioritize compliance, security, and experience. Given the unique requirements of the GCC High environment, partnering with an MSP that understands and can navigate these complexities will be invaluable.