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Microsoft said this week’s survey would halt its China-based computer engineering team for work with Pentagon Cloud Systems and other classification systems after raising national security concerns at the highest level of programs Microsoft has been using since 2016.
The Propublica report released Tuesday accused Microsoft-based engineers of allowing insufficient guardrails to support the Pentagon Cloud Systems to expand government contract business.
The report attracted the attention of GOP lawmakers and the Trump administration, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegses on Friday claimed that “any country… it is never allowed to maintain or access the DOD system.” He added that the Department of Defense will “find this as soon as possible.”
After Heggs’ indication that the Pentagon would investigate the issue, Fox News Digital reached out to Microsoft. It said it would stop using China-based computer engineers who provide support to sensitive Department of Defense clouds and related “services.”
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Pete Hegseth addressed Microsoft Security concerns. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft; Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images; Omar Havana/Getty Images)
“In response to concerns raised about the US supervising foreign engineer earlier this week, Microsoft is helping US government customers to ensure that US government customers are not providing technical assistance to the DOD government cloud and related services,” said Microsoft’s chief communications officer.
“We remain committed to providing the US government with the safest services possible, including working with our national security partners to assess and coordinate security protocols as needed.”
Released earlier this week, the ProPublica report promoted Microsoft’s actions and cited current and former employees and government contractors who worked on Microsoft’s cloud computing program deployed in 2016. The program was intended to meet federal contract regulations and used a system of “digital escorts” chaperones for global cybersecurity civil servants, including based in China. DOD guidelines require that those who process sensitive data be US citizens or permanent residents.
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The US and China flags will fly at the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China on April 25, 2024. (King Gang via Getty Images/VCG)
Some people had intimate familiarity with the hiring process for “digital escorts” positions, which cost $18 per hour, according to sources who spoke to Propublica.
Sources said that ex-service guards are often hired for security clearance rather than technical capabilities, and often lack the skill to assess the codes used by supervising engineers.
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Microsoft uses its escort system to process sensitive government information under “classification,” according to the Propublica report. It includes “data that includes life protection and financial ruin.” The Department of Defense classifies data as “impact levels” 4 and 5. Propublica is reported to contain material that directly supports military operations.
The Chinese people are ruled by sweeping out laws that force government cooperation with data collection efforts.
Arlington, Virginia pentagon (Staff/AFP by Getty Images)
Before Microsoft’s announcement on Friday, it should be noted that before halting the use of China-based engineers for sensitive Department of Defense programs, the company defends its “digital escorts” program and that all personnel and contractors with privileged access must pass federally approved background checks. The company also pointed to responses from the Defense Information Systems Agency, which stated that “digital escorts” were used in “unclassified environments.”
“For some technical requirements, Microsoft will attract a team of experts on global subjects to provide support through certified US personnel, consistent with US government requirements and processes.” “In these examples, global support personnel have no direct access to customer data or customer systems.”
The spokesman added that Microsoft will comply with the federal risk and approval management program established in 2011 to address the federal security requirements outlined by the Department of Defense and the risks associated with moving from fully government-controlled servers to cloud-based computing.
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“Establish a mitigation layer at a platform level with security and monitoring controls to detect and prevent threats. This includes a system change approval workflow and automated code reviews to quickly detect and prevent vulnerability adoption,” the spokesman said. “This production system support model has been approved by the US government and is regularly audited.”
When asked to comment on this story, the Pentagon should not be able to access the DOD system in Hegseth’s later Friday comments, “Fox News Digital will consider Microsoft programs and declare foreign engineers.”
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