Cape Endeavors Azure GCC & GCCH Secure Enclave Services – What You Need to Know

At Cape Endeavors, we’ve built our secure enclave services to be just that—secure, scalable, and compliant—without adding unnecessary complexity. Whether you're pursuing CMMC compliance, handling CUI, or building a resilient cloud environment, our Azure GCC and GCCH secure enclave offerings provide the foundation you need. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear.

Who actually owns the enclave—us or you?

You do. The customer owns the enclave and all licensing. We’ve designed it this way on purpose—so even if our contract ends for any reason, you still have full control and uninterrupted access to your environment. We’re here to support and manage it, but ownership stays with you.

Can we hook our on-prem network into the enclave?

Absolutely. We support hybrid models and can securely extend the enclave boundary to your on-premises environment for printing, or other requirements as deemed necessary.

Do you handle ongoing tech maintenance—updates, patches, or platform changes?

Yes. Cape Endeavors doesn’t just build your enclave—we maintain it. During the 3-year term, we handle system updates, patching, security enhancements, and tech refreshes as needed. Whether it’s platform upgrades or stays current with Microsoft’s cloud changes, we ensure your enclave remains secure, compliant, and operational without disruption.

Can we inherit anything for compliance—like a FedRAMP SSP or shared responsibilities?

Yes, we provide a Shared Responsibility Matrix, and for GCCH clients, we also offer documentation for inheritance mapping based on our FedRAMP Moderate baseline. Everything is aligned with NIST 800-171 and CMMC Level 2 requirements to give you a solid starting point.

Do you help us maintain compliance between assessments, risk reviews, change control, and readiness exercises?

Yes—with some important context. For CMMC Level 1, the required annual self-assessment and self-attestation are performed by the client and are generally outside the scope of the enclave. However, for Level 2 and above, Cape Endeavors provides structured support to help you stay on track.

We assist with annual risk assessments, tabletop exercises, and implement a robust change control process to ensure compliance is maintained throughout the 3-year certification cycle. We also help with artifact collection and tracking so you're never starting from scratch when it’s time for the next assessment. Our goal is to make compliance a sustainable process, not a fire drill.

What’s the tech stack behind this thing?

The enclaves are built on Microsoft Azure Government (GCC or GCCH) and leverage Microsoft's native compliance and security tools—think Microsoft 365 GCC/GCCH, Azure AD, Defender, Sentinel, and the rest of the ecosystem you’d expect in a secure cloud.Shape

Is everyone with access to our environment a verified U.S. person?

Yes. Every person with access—whether internal staff or contracted support—is a verified U.S. person. For sensitive contracts, we go even further with additional screening and background verification to meet the right clearance and trust levels.

Can we go all-in and move everything into the enclave—data, devices, and all?

You sure can. If you want to centralize everything into the enclave, we support full data and device migrations. We’ll help map out the plan, reduce friction, and make sure you stay compliant through the whole process.

Can we break out costs by contract, or is it all lumped into one big spend?

We use Azure’s consumption-based billing inside each enclave, so yes—you can track and break out costs by contract or project based on actual usage. The only thing billed as a flat fee is the enclave management charge, which ends when the contract ends.

How are changes to CMMC or NIST requirements handled during our contract?

Regulatory changes are part of the landscape, and we’re built to adapt with them. If CMMC or NIST guidelines evolve during your contract term, we’ll review the changes, assess their impact on your current implementation, and work with you to plan and execute any necessary updates. Our goal is to keep you continuously aligned—not scrambling at the last minute.

What happens if we part ways—what does off-boarding look like?

If our contract ends, we’ve got a structured off-boarding process to make the transition as smooth as possible. Whether you’re moving management in-house or working with a new partner, we’ll coordinate access and handover to the new admins. We only decommission the environment if you explicitly request it. Otherwise, your environment keeps running, and you stay in full control—no disruption, no data loss, no surprises.

Closing Thoughts

Cape Endeavors' Azure GCC and GCCH secure enclave services are designed with your control, compliance, and continuity in mind. Whether you're expanding, shifting providers, or seeking a better-managed cloud solution, we build enclaves that work for you—not the other way around.

Ready to learn more about building your own secure enclave? Let's talk!