Yesterday, AT&T announced that the company was the first holder of the Networx contract to receive authority to operate (ATO) from the GSA for implementation of Managed Trusted IP Services (MTIPS). The Networx contract allows AT&T to provide communications services to federal agencies.

MTIPS enables federal agencies to connect to the Internet via secure Internet protocol portals, which complies with OMB’s Trusted Internet Connections (TIC) initiative.

“The scope and scale of Networx allows AT&T to offer enhanced, innovative technology and services to the Federal Government with the power to transform the way government operates and interacts with citizens,” said Don Herring, Senior Vice President, AT&T Government Solutions, AT&T Global Services. “AT&T’s MTIPS solution is a means to achieve this transformation by enhancing the security of the network infrastructure.”

Approval from GSA means that AT&T can now implement the MTIPS program across government agencies. The company recently disclosed contracts for MTIPS with the Federal Trade Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.

“AT&T’s cloud based approach to cybersecurity is the foundation for MTIPS,” said Ed Amoroso, Chief Security Officer, AT&T, Inc. “We use the cloud to proactively detect and diffuse security threats at the ‘street corner’ as opposed to the ‘front door’ of a federal agency – thereby minimizing the risk of a cyber attack. With AT&T’s MTIPS solution, we can help agencies protect their network with the advance notice necessary to counter the threats.”

MTIPS includes intrusion detection and protection, anti-virus, email scanning and managed firewall services.

“MTIPS can enable federal agencies to augment their network defenses against cyber attacks,” said Jeff Mohan, Executive Director, Networx Program Office, AT&T Government Solutions. “We have already seen extremely strong interest in our MTIPS service from federal agencies. MTIPS is an opportunity for federal agencies to transform their business operations via Networx with enhanced cybersecurity.”

Earlier this year, AT&T received formal notification from DHS that MTIPS meets the department’s requirements for operation of a Trusted Internet Connections Access Provider.