AMRDEC SAFE is a system that was created at a Huntsville, Ala.-based R&D center to help government officials exchange data with civilian industry partners. Once implemented, the system grew into a solution for many government agencies, allowing users to exchange information about personnel and medical records and send messages to email addresses outside government domains. However, AMRDEC SAFE has since been disabled by an unnamed government agency due to maintenance issues.
AMRDEC SAFE is not currently available to the public. Still, it has been around for a while and was used by the U.S. military for sharing Covered Unclassified Information. It is now no longer a viable option, however. However, alternative solutions allow users to share files securely and comply with government regulations. The most secure and fastest deployment solution is a hosted solution.
What is AMRDEC SAFE?
The U.S. Department of Defense has halted AMRDEC SAFE. This online service allows government officials to share sensitive defense information with civilian industry partners. The shutdown was a major setback for the military and civilian employees who depended on AMRDEC SAFE for sensitive information exchange.
To secure federal agencies’ data, the U.S. Department of Defense is deploying the Department of Defense Secure Access File Exchange, which replaces AMRDEC SAFE. This new system will provide users with enterprise-wide file transfer capabilities and allow users to encrypt sensitive data to make the transfer more secure. It will also allow contractors to transfer files securely within the federal government.
How Does AMRDEC SAFE work?
AMRDEC SAFE is a file-sharing service developed by the Army Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center. It enables the transfer of large files. It can handle files up to 2 gigabytes and has been around since 1996. Users can access files through a password-protected web-based panel.
This solution uses multi-factor authentication, a security feature that combines one-time passwords and Time Passcodes to verify an individual’s identity. Once authenticated, the user is provided with a unique, one-time code displayed on a mobile device, which changes every 60 seconds. This code can then be entered into the system along with their username and password to verify identity.
The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) launched a secure file-sharing site called SAFE. This tool was originally developed for the Army but quickly outgrew its original purpose. Now, it allows users to upload files up to eight gigabytes. Unlike the previous AMRDEC SAFE tool, the new site will allow users to upload and download files multiple times and send and receive up to 25 files simultaneously. Files are stored for seven days after they are uploaded.
Why was AMRDEC SAFE disabled?
The U.S. Department of Defense recently disabled a file-sharing service called AMRDEC Safe Access File Exchange (SAFE). The service, developed to facilitate large data file exchanges and handle nonclassified materials, was used by Army aviation and missile research centers. It used an FTP-based system and a password-protected web panel to enable users to share large data files with others.
The software developed by AMRDEC has been able to scale to the massive number of DOD users. At its peak, AMRDEC SAFE could transfer up to 11,000 packages a day. In the fiscal year 2018, the system was used by 600,000 unique users. It also enables the transfer of sensitive information.
After the site was disabled, AMRDEC did not manage any other secure file transfer sites. It is unclear if other government-run secure file exchange sites are available. In the meantime, AMRDEC officials are advising users to use alternative methods. Users have expressed dissatisfaction with the site, citing sluggishness and frequent crashes.
What is the replacement for AMRDEC?
The Air and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center Safe Access File Exchange, or AMRDEC SAFE, is a system that allows government agencies to securely share files. However, the system has been temporarily shut down due to security concerns. To address those concerns, the DoD has launched a new service, DoD SAFE. The new system will allow agencies to send and receive larger files and eliminate the security vulnerabilities plaguing AMRDEC.
The Defense Department is moving to a new site with more security and capacity to help government workers transfer larger files. AMRDEC SAFE, also known as the Aviation and Missile Research, Development, and Engineering Center Safe Access File Exchange, was used to handle large files and transfer classified and nonclassified materials. It used FTP and a password-protected web-based panel to facilitate data exchange.
After a vulnerability was found in the system, the site was disabled. However, the system was eventually restored, although problems with sustainment and maintenance slowed it down. It took a few months to create a new secure file exchange service. However, the Defense Department made it available in six months, the deadline the chief information officer set for the system’s replacement.
Is AMRDEC SAFE disabled permanently?
The U.S. Department of Defense shut down a file-sharing service last month. The service, known as AMRDEC Safe, provided a platform for the exchange of large files. This allowed DOD personnel to swap files that were too large to email. The service allowed users to transfer up to two gigabytes at a time. The website also featured a password-protected web panel and an FTP-based system.
The replacement for AMRDEC SAFE is called DoD SAFE, and it was introduced on Aug. 15 by the Defense Information Systems Agency. The service is an upgrade of the AMRDEC SAFE system and provides enterprise-wide security for file transfers. However, it is important to note that DoD SAFE is only available for federal agencies and unsuitable for contractors.
The AMRDEC SAFE site was temporarily disabled following a security breach in February, but it was reactivated soon after. However, some of the maintenance issues caused the system to be out of service again. Fortunately, the Defense Department’s chief information officer ordered the site operational in six months.