4 Things You Should Know About Zoom for Government

As part of the normal course of business, U.S. Federal Government employees need to collaborate online while safeguarding crucial information and mitigating risk. In order to address these requirements, Zoom has a separate, entirely U.S.-based, specialized, and tailored platform designed to support the security controls and certifications required by the U.S. government, called Zoom for Government.

Here are four key things you should know about Zoom for Government:

Zoom is an American company, founded and based in San Jose, California. To support federal departments and agencies, we created our Zoom for Government solution, which leverages the U.S.-based GovCloud infrastructure and U.S.-based data centers. It is deployed and managed by U.S. persons only. 

Designed to meet the specialized requirements and needs of the U.S. government, Zoom for Government provides federal employees with the same seamless, secure, and reliable Zoom experience. 

Zoom for Government was designed to conform with the requirements for FedRAMP authorization, the federal program for evaluating the security of solutions. This government-wide program provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. It enables agencies to evolve from legacy infrastructures to mission-critical, secure, and cost-effective cloud technology.

Zoom for Government obtained FedRAMP approval in February 2019. The platform is designed with security top of mind and leverages Zoom’s 256-bit AES-GCM encryption. It ensures federal employees can safely deploy specific applications necessary for their job function and protect the exchange of crucial data.

While Zoom for Government users leverage Zoom Meetings to collaborate in real-time, the specialized platform extends beyond meetings. In fact, Zoom Webinars, Zoom Rooms, and Zoom Phone are FedRAMP authorized and meet the other certifications and authorizations. 

Zoom's webinar solution allows users to engage with large audiences with ease. Agencies across the Federal Government have used Zoom Webinars to inform the public, as well as for internal communications and training. Zoom Rooms powers video-enabled offices, conference rooms, and other workspaces that are fundamental for federal officials and employees to meet, collaborate, and address issues together. It also comes with free add-ons like Digital Signage and Scheduling Display. Digital Signage can help display announcements and information in federal buildings and organize committee or agency meetings, while Scheduling Display helps users view room availability and schedule new meetings. With Zoom Phone, these employees can make quick and secure phone calls from anywhere in the country. Combined, these solutions create a secure, unified communications system for federal agencies of all shapes and sizes.

Zoom for Government was specifically created to meet security requirements established by the Federal Government. It is designed for agencies across the three branches of government, national public institutions, branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, state and local governments, and approved contractors that collaborate with federal agencies. 

Most commercial organizations don’t require the certifications and authorizations native to Zoom for Government. For them, Zoom’s commercial Zoom platform comes with a security-first architecture that helps keep all organizations safe. It includes the same strong 256-bit AES-GCM encryption as Zoom for Government.

Whether you’re a federal employee or an everyday professional, all versions of Zoom are designed to enable seamless and secure collaboration, prioritizing users’ privacy, security, and experience, all in one platform.

To learn more about Zoom for Government, get details on our Zoom for Government page, find us on the FedRAMP Marketplace, or email fedramp@zoom.us.

Editor’s note: This blog post was edited on Aug. 3, 2021, to include the most up-to-date information on Zoom encryption.