Velo3D Sapphire 3D Printers Achieve Key Security Compliance

Military and security-conscious 3D printing users should take note: Velo3D’s Sapphire family of 3D printers are the first to achieve the U.S. Department of Defense’s (DoD) Green-level Security Technical Implementation Guide (STIG) compliance standard, an achievement that advances cybersecurity protections in the age of digital manufacturing.

With the STIG certification, Sapphire printers can now be connected to the DoD’s Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet), which integrates them more tightly in production-class military operations. The certification will also increase customer confidence that their metal 3D printers are hardened against potential cyberattacks, which is critical as digital manufacturing and the digital thread gain traction.

“Digital design files used in metal AM are highly sensitive,” writes Aaron Katske, vice president of Information Technology in a blog post on the topic. “If compromised, they could lead to significant intellectual property theft and national security threats. STIGs provide comprehensive guidelines to secure these digital assets, ensuring they are stored, transmitted, and accessed in a manner that minimizes the risk of unauthorized access or tampering.”

Prior to the STIG certification, government agencies and contractors using Velo3D metal 3D printers had to keep them disconnected from network connections, a technique known as airgapping. This can complicate printer management, create security risks, and also prevented Velo3D users from fully leveraging the printer’s integrated capabilities for printer process monitoring, analyzing data, and transferring print files between printers. Now engineers can utilize all aspects of metal AM when manufacturing parts that are classified or International Traffic in Arms Regulation (ITAR) protected without risking stolen intellectual property or cyberattacks.

The rigorous qualification process was achieved through collaboration with a third party to generate compliance, vulnerability, and remediation reports from Sapphire printers that measure against security benchmarks. The testing process confirmed that all Velo3D printers provide the highest network, data, and software security, as well as vulnerability management, reducing the risk of security breaches. The full portfolio of printers passed muster, including the Sapphire, Sapphire 1MZ, Sapphire XC, and Sapphire XC 1MZ. Test results indicated Velo3D achieved an average score of 97% on its tests, exceeding the DoD’s threshold of 90% required to score Green-level STIG compliance—the highest level offered.

“When customers that work with the DoD inquired about STIG compliance, we quickly went to work to achieve the highest level of certification available,” said Benny Buller, Velo3D founder and CEO. “I am confident this will empower all our customers—but especially those that work with the DoD and other government agencies—to fully leverage the capabilities of our additive manufacturing technology without worrying about the risk of stolen intellectual property.”

While AM ushers in a new era of digitally designed and manufactured goods, it also opens the door to risks, including theft of intellectual property, data breaches, even improper distribution and manufacture of goods. A Deloitte study found that nearly half executives surveyed on advanced manufacturing strategies confirmed they lack confidence in their ability to safeguard against external threats. Thirty-nine percent experienced a breach in the last 12 months with 38% accounting for losses of up to $10 million.

Current Velo3D customers can upgrade their existing Sapphire printers to achieve STIG Green-level security through a software upgrade.