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Mission Secure: Modern PIAM on the Frontlines of Defense

  • Soloinsight Inc.
  • Jun 28, 2022
  • 6 min read
Mission Secure: Modern PIAM on the Frontlines of Defense

Introduction: The New Battlefield Begins at the Gate


In a world where digital warfare and physical threats are indistinguishably intertwined, the question is no longer if your infrastructure will be tested—but when. Defense and military facilities, long considered the most secure environments on Earth, are grappling with the evolving complexities of managing physical identities in a post-2020 landscape.


Gone are the days of static ID cards, badge-heavy protocols, and siloed security systems. Today, frontline security begins not with a weapon—but with a Physical Identity and Access Management (PIAM) platform capable of enforcing zero-trust principles at the gate, managing contractor credentials with military precision, and eliminating identity-based vulnerabilities long before a breach occurs.


This is where Soloinsight’s CloudGate PIAM platform comes in—bringing advanced biometric technologies, wallet-based credentials, and centralized identity orchestration to the defense perimeter.


Beyond the Barracks: Why Defense Needs More Than Badges


Traditional access control systems in military environments rely heavily on fixed credentials: plastic badges, RFID tokens, or physical sign-ins. While robust on paper, they create blind spots—especially when managing rotating contractors, visiting dignitaries, or hybrid defense contractors working across multiple zones.


PIAM transforms this static infrastructure into a living, dynamic identity layer that knows who, when, where, and why someone should be inside a secure zone.


Modern PIAM on the Frontlines of Defense


  • Replaces outdated ID cards with wallet-based credentials stored on secure mobile devices.

  • Enables TRA Face ID biometric entry with near-zero error rates.

  • Integrates clearance levels with real-time access zones so that someone cleared for the server room isn’t mistakenly granted access to the armory.


A Fortune 500 defense contractor recently transitioned from a fragmented badge-based system to CloudGate’s centralized PIAM platform. Within three months, unauthorized zone attempts dropped by 84%, and multi-role access conflicts were automatically flagged and resolved without human intervention.


In high-stakes environments, even seconds of delay—or a single unlogged access—can have mission-critical consequences. PIAM's ability to synchronize access levels with mission updates in real time ensures that protocols can shift dynamically without exposing vulnerabilities.


Zero Trust, Fully Deployed


The defense sector was one of the earliest adopters of zero trust in network security—but ironically, many facilities still operate under “implicit trust” models in their physical spaces.


CloudGate PIAM helps close this gap by implementing zero-trust at the physical layer:


  • Identity must be verified, not assumed. Every access point requires biometric or cryptographic proof.

  • Least privilege is enforced. Access is role-based and time-limited.

  • Behavior is continuously monitored. Repeated door access outside standard times triggers automatic alerts.


Example: At a joint tactical command site, CloudGate detected an anomaly when a contractor badge was used at 2:11 a.m.—a time outside approved shift hours. Within seconds, the access was blocked, and a security alert was dispatched. Investigation revealed badge misuse, preventing a potential breach.


This isn't just access control; it's adaptive intelligence, constantly scanning and learning from user behavior to anticipate threats before they mature.


TRA Face ID: Biometrics Built for the Battlefield


Speed and certainty define military readiness. That principle now extends to identity.

CloudGate’s TRA Face ID delivers touchless, real-time recognition for entry into high-security zones—be it a nuclear materials lab, classified intelligence briefing room, or weapons depot. Unlike keypads or swipe cards, which can be cloned, shared, or stolen, facial biometrics ensure the person entering is exactly who they claim to be.

Benefits of TRA Face ID for defense:


  • Ultra-low latency: Recognition in milliseconds.

  • Mask-compatible: Ideal for environments where face coverings or gear are worn.

  • Contactless: Reducing contamination or transfer risk in lab or medical facilities.

  • Spoof-proof: Built to detect deepfakes or photo attacks with anti-spoofing AI layers.


And crucially—it’s offline-operational, meaning military bases with spotty connectivity or air-gapped networks can still enforce biometric identity controls.

Consider a high-altitude defense radar station. Harsh climates and reduced network availability make traditional systems unreliable. TRA Face ID, supported locally with encrypted biometric caching, ensures uninterrupted access validation—even when offline.


Wallet Credentials: Identity in a Warfighter’s Pocket


In operational zones, speed equals safety. Soldiers, engineers, and contractors don’t have time to dig through pockets for badges or remember PIN codes in high-stress situations.


With CloudGate’s PIAM-enabled wallet-based credentials, military personnel can gain secure access using:


  • Mobile phones

  • Wearables like smartwatches

  • Biometrically secured tablets or rugged devices


These credentials are cryptographically signed, easily revoked, and time-bound. Lost devices can be remotely disabled. And temporary digital credentials for visiting inspectors or classified teams can be issued and expired within minutes—without printing a single badge.


Example: During a multi-agency drill, a defense facility issued 126 digital credentials to visiting NATO observers. Using wallet-based access, all participants were onboarded, approved, and monitored without once visiting the security desk.


Even more critically, in scenarios where access needs to be instantly disabled, wallet-based credentials offer a safety switch that simply doesn't exist with physical badges—ensuring rapid lockdowns when intelligence or threat levels shift.


Command-Level Oversight: Real-Time Access Intelligence


Defense requires central visibility with decentralized enforcement. CloudGate makes this possible with:


  • Command dashboards displaying live access events across multiple bases

  • Role- and clearance-based access mapping across all gates, buildings, and rooms

  • Automated anomaly detection via AI—flagging repeat access failures, after-hours entries, or unexpected zone transitions

  • Compliance logging for DoD, FISMA, and NIST frameworks


All data is encrypted, audit-ready, and exportable for security audits and regulatory reviews.


For base commanders, CloudGate enables dashboard-level threat tracking—a real-time situational awareness map of who is inside what building, for how long, and under what pre-approved mission conditions. If someone enters a sensitive area outside of their defined mission window, an alert is fired across both central and local command systems.


Fortifying the Contractor Frontier


Defense contractors are often the most vulnerable access point in military environments. While critical to operations, contractors frequently change, work across multiple zones, and may not undergo the same onboarding rigor as full-time personnel.

CloudGate solves this by:


  • Automating contractor credentialing and expiration

  • Vetting identities through integration with federal background systems

  • Issuing “least access” permissions tied to project timelines

  • Revoking expired credentials across all sites simultaneously


No more forgotten deactivations or shared badges. Every contractor is digitally onboarded, their activity monitored, and access revoked when their scope ends.

One military cybersecurity lab experienced a security scare when a third-party contractor failed to return a temporary badge. Had it been digital, the credential would have auto-expired with the project’s end date. With CloudGate, such events are designed out of the system entirely.


Red Team Tested, Blue Team Approved


When tested by Red Teams simulating insider and external attacks, CloudGate’s PIAM platform consistently blocked:


  • Cloned badge access attempts

  • Door-propping scenarios

  • Shared credential misuse

  • Phishing-style digital credential spoofing


Blue Teams using CloudGate could pinpoint each attempt, isolate compromised access points, and respond within minutes.


Moreover, CloudGate allows drill-based scenario testing by integrating with mock-exercise frameworks. Whether testing for active shooter lockdowns, chemical hazard isolation, or cyber-physical attack vectors, PIAM can be stressed and analyzed as a live component of mission readiness—not an afterthought.


Scalable. Secure. Seamless.


CloudGate isn’t just built for today’s defense mission—it’s engineered for tomorrow’s multi-domain operations. Whether it's:


  • A military base with 7,000 rotating personnel

  • A bioweapons R&D lab with zero-fail clearance protocols

  • A mobile command unit deployed in remote terrain


CloudGate’s PIAM ecosystem brings interoperability, mobile readiness, and biometric assurance to every access point—physical or digital.


Its flexibility enables new layers of defense for modern scenarios:


  • Joint operations involving allied forces needing coordinated credentialing

  • Embedded defense contractors with evolving clearance needs

  • Nationwide guard units activated across state lines with unified ID oversight


No matter how the mission changes, CloudGate adapts without disrupting core operations.


Conclusion: Physical Identity as the First Line of Defense


Defense is no longer defined solely by force—it’s defined by identity. Who has access. When. Where . And under what conditions.


Soloinsight’s CloudGate Modern PIAM platform delivers the tools military organizations need to build frictionless, ironclad, identity-first environments—without compromising speed, compliance, or security.


From the frontline to the war room, CloudGate ensures that only the right person, at the right time, under the right conditions, can enter the right space. That’s not just security. That’s mission assurance.


Contact Soloinsight


Ready to secure your facility with battlefield-grade identity assurance? Contact Soloinsight to learn how CloudGate PIAM can help fortify your physical security perimeter with biometric, mobile-first innovation.



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