Velo3D, Inc., a leading metal additive manufacturing technology company for mission-critical parts, announced that its Sapphire family of 3D printers are the first to achieve Green-level STIG Compliance from the United States Department of Defence (DoD).
The certification allows Sapphire printers to connect to the Department of Defense’s Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), providing customers with the assurance that their metal 3D printers are hardened against potential cyberattacks.
U.S. DoD’s Green-level STIG Compliance
Collaboration with a third party to generate compliance, vulnerability, and remediation reports from Sapphire printers that measure against security benchmarks enabled the rigorous qualification process. The testing process confirmed that all Velo3D printers offer the highest level of network, data, and software security, as well as vulnerability management, lowering the risk of security breaches.
Sapphire, Sapphire 1MZ, Sapphire XC, and Sapphire XC 1MZ are all included. Velo3D scored an average of 97% on its tests, exceeding the DoD’s 90% threshold for achieving Green-level STIG (Security Technical Implementation Guide) compliance—the highest level available.
Velo3D Sapphire printers can now connect to the DoD’s Non-classified Internet Protocol Router Network (NIPRNet) in addition to SIPRNet. STIG compliance is required for DoD agencies and contractors who connect to both networks, as well as networks operated by other federal government branches.
“Our team at Velo3D strives to go above and beyond to meet our customers’ needs, so when customers that work with the DoD inquired about STIG compliance, we quickly went to work to achieve the highest level of certification available.”
– Benny Buller, Founder and CEO, Velo3D
Buller, “I am proud of our team’s work in achieving this qualification and I am confident this will empower all our customers—but especially those that work with the DoD and other government agencies—to fully leverage the capabilities of our additive manufacturing technology without worrying about the risk of stolen intellectual property.”
Without STIG compliance, government agencies and contractors using metal 3D printers were required to keep them disconnected from network connections. This technique—commonly referred to as airgapping—can complicate the process of managing printers. In the case of Velo3D, engineers and printer operators could not fully leverage the capabilities of its fully integrated solution, which enables users to easily monitor the printing of parts, analyse the data generated in the printing process, and transfer print files to and from printers.
Now, with Velo3D, engineers can utilize all aspects of metal additive manufacturing technology when manufacturing parts that are classified or International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) protected, without risking stolen intellectual property or other cyberattacks.
STIG compliance will also make it easier for defence contractors and agencies to purchase Sapphire printers as they will no longer have to obtain exceptions and other approvals that are required for non-compliant printers. Current Velo3D customers can easily upgrade their existing Sapphire printers to achieve STIG Green-level security. The software upgrade can be completed with minimal impact on the customer.
A large-format Sapphire XC in Velo3D’s Lakeview, California manufacturing facility, along with a cross-sectioned supersonic ramjet engine. Velo3D printers are compliant with the U.S. Department of Defence’s STIG cybersecurity guidelines, giving customers the confidence their additive manufacturing technology is hardened against cyberattacks and other vulnerabilities. All Velo3D printers are designed and manufactured in the U.S.A.
