Microsoft decided to stop using China-based engineers for supporting the Defense Department's cloud systems to mitigate risks of hacking and espionage. However, investigations revealed that China-based personnel have also been involved in maintaining cloud systems for other federal departments like Justice, Treasury, and Commerce. This work is conducted through the Government Community Cloud, which handles sensitive but unclassified information. Despite oversight by US-based personnel, cybersecurity experts believe that relying on foreign support poses significant risks to sensitive government data.
"There's a misconception that, if government data isn't classified, no harm can come of its distribution," said Rex Booth, a former federal cybersecurity official who now is chief information security officer of the tech company SailPoint.
Microsoft has used its global workforce, including China-based personnel, to maintain cloud systems of federal departments, risking exposure to hacking and espionage.
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