Stratasys’ Data Security Platform Supports U.S. Government Implementations of 3D Printing

Stratasys’ Protect AM is a data security solution designed to enhance the cybersecurity of additive manufacturing (AM) as its role in government and defense applications grows larger and more mission critical.

The ProtectAM solution is the first in AM to use Red Hat Enterprise Linux, a leading enterprise Linux platform. This platform is preferred by the U.S. government to help deliver continuous information processing security in accordance with requirements contained in the applicable Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) issued by the Defense Information System Agency (DISA) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD).

The ProtectAM solution will initially be available for several industrial and large-format Stratasys FDM 3D printers, which are frequently used by government customers to produce end-use parts and tools for applications such as aviation and ground maintenance applications, the company says. It is currently available for Fortus 450mc printers and is expected to be available for F900 3D printers by the end of the year. Stratasys F370 and F770 3D printers are expected to be added in early 2022, with printers that use other Stratasys technologies beyond FDM to follow. In the future, Stratasys expects to extend ProtectAM’s cybersecurity benefits to industry segments beyond government.

“The integrity of parts printed from digital files is absolutely essential, and we have established the ProtectAM solution to be a world-class security solution to continue the adoption of additive manufacturing by government agencies and, ultimately, to commercial segments as well,” says Dick Anderson, Stratasys senior vice president for manufacturing.

Stratasys developed its data information security solution to comply with the U.S. Defense Information Systems Agency’s Security Technical Implementation Guide for Red Hat Enterprise Linux. The STIG outlines several hundred security controls to protect against cybersecurity threats.

The release of Stratasys’ ProtectAM system opens Stratasys systems to new applications within the government that extend well beyond R&D settings, the company says. Adherence to STIG security controls enables the U.S. military to more readily deliver a geographically distributed enterprise network of 3D printers across and even beyond U.S. military bases so mission-critical digital files can be sent wherever they are needed faster and parts can be quickly 3D printed locally.