Application Compatibility in GCC High: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Application Compatibility in GCC High: What to Expect and How to Prepare
Blog Article
One of the biggest surprises organizations face during a GCC High transition is discovering which apps work—and which don’t. Due to its stricter compliance boundaries and data residency requirements, Microsoft GCC High doesn’t support all third-party integrations or even some Microsoft services available in Commercial.
This article breaks down what to expect regarding app compatibility in GCC High, and how GCC High migration services help you plan around limitations without losing functionality.
1. Why GCC High Has Different Compatibility Rules
GCC High is designed to meet:
DoD IL4/IL5 compliance
CMMC and NIST 800-171 standards
FedRAMP High and ITAR regulations
✅ That means tighter controls, fewer integrations, and longer approval processes for third-party services.
2. Common Microsoft Services with Limited Availability
Some Microsoft apps are partially or fully unsupported in GCC High:
Power BI (Pro and Premium features may require workarounds)
Microsoft Loop and Viva Engage
Copilot integrations in Word, Excel, and Teams
Dynamics 365 in full feature mode
✅ GCC High migration services help assess which services are needed and what alternatives exist.
3. Third-Party App Challenges
Many popular tools don’t support GCC High due to:
Lack of compliance with ITAR or FedRAMP High
Incompatibility with the Microsoft US Sovereign Cloud
Inability to connect via supported APIs
✅ You’ll need to evaluate every app in your stack for support, licensing, and security fit.
4. Strategies to Work Around App Gaps
You can maintain productivity by:
Using approved FedRAMP High–compliant alternatives
Building Power Platform or SharePoint-based workflows to replace legacy tools
Segmenting users—keeping some in Commercial M365 if appropriate for non-CUI work
✅ Planning these adaptations during the migration phase reduces disruption.
5. Create a Compatibility Review Process
Make app vetting part of your change management strategy:
Maintain a list of supported vs. restricted tools
Use a risk-based approval process for new requests
Periodically re-evaluate tools as new certifications are added
✅ This keeps your IT landscape compliant and efficient.