Press Release

Asc3nd, Cisco, National Defense University, and IGEL Accelerate DoD Comply-to-Connect and Zero Trust Mission Readiness

DoD-Compliant Endpoints Secured in Days — Partnership Delivers High-Assurance C2C and Zero Trust Through Standards-Based Integration.

Washington, DC — August 29, 2025 — Asc3nd Technologies Group (ATG), in collaboration with Cisco, the National Defense University (NDU), and IGEL, today announced the successful completion of a joint initiative delivering a repeatable, standards-based architecture that enables rapid Comply-to-Connect (C2C) and Zero Trust alignment for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).

The initiative demonstrates how existing endpoint hardware can be securely repurposed to meet strict DoD network access controls, reduce operational complexity, and accelerate time-to-compliance in mission-critical environments.

Mission Assurance Through Endpoint Control

Working with NDU, the team implemented a controlled, policy-driven device program designed to pass rigorous DoD C2C posture checks, enforce workload segregation, and integrate Zero Trust policy enforcement at the endpoint.

Cisco Identity Services Engine (ISE) served as the policy decision point, delivering identity validation, posture validation, and continuous monitoring. IGEL’s immutable, read-only endpoint OS — centrally orchestrated by the Universal Management Suite (UMS) — provided the trusted endpoint architecture that minimized attack surface, enforced configuration integrity, and eliminated local data storage.

Through standards-based API integration, Cisco ISE pxGrid Direct integration dynamically interrogated UMS for enrollment, configuration, and real-time compliance status. Once requirements were met, ISE automatically applied network policies — including segmentation, Security Group Tagging (SGT), and VLAN assignments — granting mission-ready access to compliant devices and restricting non-compliant ones to limited access until remediated.

Zero Trust Operationalized for the DoD

The solution directly supports the DoD Zero Trust Strategy and current C2C oversight by applying:

●      Immutable Endpoint Security: The IGEL Preventative Security Model™ ensures no local data through a modular OS and tamper-proof configuration.

●      Continuous Posture Validation: Automated compliance checks before and during network access.

●      Policy-Driven Automation: Network segmentation and authorization without manual intervention.

Beyond the initial deployment, the architecture is adaptable to multiple DoD and public sector missions — from VDI/DaaS to enterprise browsers a

nd fit-for-purpose operational workspaces — enabling secure, efficient endpoint operations across diverse environments.

Partnership Perspectives

“Comply-to-Connect is the tactical on-ramp to Zero Trust,” said Sarn Bien-Aime, CEO of Asc3nd. “By grounding this project in open standards and automation, we’ve shown agencies how to achieve operationally secure outcomes under compressed timelines. Our collaboration with NDU proves that Zero Trust can be executed in production without slowing the mission.”

“Prevention at the endpoint, combined with centralized orchestration through IGEL UMS, reduces risk, simplifies compliance, and accelerates time-to-mission,” said John Walsh, Field CTO – Critical Sectors, IGEL. “That’s exactly what our public sector customers are demanding.”

Availability

A reference architecture and implementation notes are available to eligible DoD and public sector organizations upon request.

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About Asc3nd Technologies Group (ATG)

Asc3nd Technologies Group delivers secure, scalable IT and cybersecurity solutions that empower government agencies to meet their missions with confidence. www.asc3ndtech.com

About the National Defense University (NDU)

NDU educates joint warfighters and other national security leaders in critical thinking and the creative application of military power to inform national strategy and globally integrated operations, under conditions of disruptive change, in order to prevail in war, peace, and competition. www.ndu.edu

About Cisco

Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) is the worldwide leader in technology that powers the Internet. Cisco inspires new possibilities by reimagining applications, securing data, transforming infrastructure, and empowering teams for a global and inclusive future. Cisco's innovative solutions connect people, devices, and networks, helping organizations of all sizes accelerate their digital journeys. For more information, visit www.cisco.com.

About IGEL

IGEL is a global leader in endpoint security and provider of the IGEL Secure Endpoint OS Platform™ for now & next — enabling hybrid work, cloud adoption, and Zero Trust. Purpose-built for VDI, DaaS, SaaS, and secure enterprise browsing for IT and OT, it delivers high performance while reducing complexity, cost, and risk.

The Preventative Security Model™, central to IGEL’s approach, removes attack surfaces and enforces Zero Trust principles through the Preventative Security Architecture™ — an immutable, modular design with no local data. Safeguarded by the Trusted Application Platform and supported by built-in Business Continuity, IGEL delivers operational resilience. Through the Adaptive Secure Desktop™, organizations gain role-based workspace delivery tailored to user needs while maintaining failsafe security.

By extending device lifecycles and minimizing the software footprint, IGEL delivers significant TCO savings and advances sustainability. Founded in 2001 in Bremen, Germany, IGEL operates globally with U.S. offices and a 100+ partner IGEL Ready ecosystem in over 50 countries. Learn more at www.igel.com.

Media Contact:

Cherrelle Green Director of Marketing cherrelle@asc3ndtech.com