Not necessarily. GCC High is not a mandatory requirement for achieving CMMC 2.0 compliance at any level. However, it is highly recommended for organizations managing or planning to manage Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) or export-controlled data.

Why Choose GCC High?

• Your team is already using Microsoft 365, making adoption easier.
• Migrating from one cloud platform to another is resource-intensive—starting with GCC High may save time later.
• If your organization handles ITAR/EAR data, GCC High is essential. Commercial and GCC (non-High) environments are not authorized to manage export-controlled data.
• Microsoft is continuously evolving GCC High to stay aligned with new regulatory demands impacting the Defense Industrial Base (DIB).

* May require U.S. sovereignty controls for full compliance

Unlike commercial Microsoft 365, only Enterprise-level licenses are available under GCC High. That means no Business Premium or Business Standard options—only packages like Microsoft 365 E3 or E5.

Key Questions to Consider:

• Do all employees need GCC High, or just those interacting with CUI?
• Will you use Microsoft Intune for endpoint management?
• Will you deploy Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) for remote work?
• Are you using Microsoft Defender or an external security solution?

Example Licensing Bundles

Tips for Smart GCC High Licensing

We recommend purchasing at least one Microsoft 365 E5 license, even if most users are on E3. This unlocks access to:

• Customer Lockbox – for secure support interactions
• Microsoft Purview Compliance Manager – includes CMMC templates and assessments

To buy GCC High licenses, your organization must first apply and be approved by Microsoft's U.S. Government Cloud Eligibility Team.

Eligibility Categories:

• Category 2: Entities with a valid CAGE code or SAM registration
• Category 3: Contractors managing regulated data with contractual obligations

Application Steps:

1. Visit: Microsoft Government Cloud Eligibility Portal
2. Fill out the form and select 'Customers handling government-controlled data'
3. Choose applicable regulated data types (e.g., ITAR, CUI)
4. Submit supporting documentation upon request
5. Receive approval email within 3–7 business days

You'll need this approval to complete your purchase with an authorized reseller.

No—it doesn't.

GCC High is an enabling platform, not a compliance solution in itself. To become CMMC compliant, your team must:

• Properly configure the environment
• Apply the required security controls
• Document compliance with CMMC practices

We offer a full suite of services to support your GCC High journey:

• Eligibility validation assistance
• Licensing and migration planning
• Endpoint security and cloud configuration
• CMMC-aligned compliance consulting
• Ongoing managed security services

Let's build your roadmap to secure, compliant operations—starting today.