How the CDSA transforms movie-making in the cloud with Azure
 |
Focus on: Empower Employees, Optimize Operations, Engage Customers |
Though the glitz and glamour of Hollywood movies are typically saved for actors and actresses, the hundreds of crew members working behind the scenes are just as integral to the movie-making process, ensuring even the most minute details of each film production are perfectly in place. The challenge has been not only to keep content secure, but equally importantly, to create a secure, single sign-on environment to enable them to get the work done in a world where production companies, offices, and even users are often temporary.
The Content Delivery and Security Association (CDSA) is a non-profit organization that sets best practices for the entertainment industry with regards to content production and security. It supports production companies all over the globe, and is comprised of representatives from multiple studios, major producers, and various solution providers.
Building a solution to match the versatility, flexibility, and security needs of the industry
At the CDSA, content security is viewed as an essential aspect of every stage of production—from securing the flow of visual materials during editing, to protecting the completed film from piracy threats. The recommended solution(s) needed to address every part of the process, with capabilities and features to meet the specific digital needs of different departments and crewmembers.
To complicate matters, each production organization functions as a separate, temporary company separate from its financing parent, operating only for the duration of the film’s production, and in whatever geographic location the movie requires.
“Production offices are all temporary, our companies are all temporary, and our users are even more temporary—which makes the normal enterprise active directory single-sign-on environment very difficult to set up and manage,” explains LuLu Zezza, Film Line Producer, CEO of Three Zebra Solutions, and member of the Board of Directors for the CDSA.
Leveraging Azure, SharePoint, Office 365, and Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite to streamline security and accessibility
Shaping a system that could support the digital needs of the CDSA required several Microsoft products. The digital solution was designed using Azure’s reliable and globally scaleable cloud infrastructure, SharePoint’s organized platform, and Office 365’s key applications. “With this solution, we have one system that’s consistent so that everyone understands it,” says Lulu. “The rules are consistent, the protections are consistent, and the system is protecting the corporate information—and that’s everything from contracts, contact lists, research, continuity photographs, and the media that they create.”
The solution’s versatility and usability were achieved through Azure’s adaptable technology, serving as the foundation of a database that could successfully support the specific, unique digital needs of each production. In addition to a virtual machine active directory for each new film production, the system also provides temporary digital dashboards for each employee, increasing connectivity and productivity for the entire project.
The Azure-based system is secured with Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility Suite, in partnership with other security layers. The three-tiered identification process manages to ensure data security without becoming clunky or inconvenient for employees. Portal access depends on the employee’s log in information, what kind of device they’re using, and the IP address from which they’re accessing the system. The database’s permissions offer detailed levels of usability, determining whether or not employees can use specific applications, view or edit a given document, and more.
Network protection is the foundation of the entire production process, leveraging technology that provides a holistic view of production security. “We’re creating a best practice where we just work securely as a baseline, and then we can add additional layers,” Lulu says.
This solution supports CDSA’s vision for a versatile and intuitive digital solution that could work all over the world in varying environments, and with scalable technology that could support both major productions and smaller independent studios.
The CDSA’s guidelines also have the responsibility of tackling digital requirements around personally identifiable information (PII) regulations applicable across the film industry. As many production companies are set up in Europe, the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) had to be addressed by the CDSA guidelines, adding the securing of employee PII to the protecting of intellectual property.
The Microsoft Azure Media Services CSMS has been validated by the CDSA, awarding Azure Media Services certification to this standard. Microsoft demonstrated a proof of risk assessment against the CPS standard requirements, and also filed a comprehensive Statement of Applicability that articulated the content protection features of Azure Media Services. Microsoft is committed to continuing the annual CDSA audits, as well as maintaining the internal audits and controls necessary to retain CPS certification. For more insight, see these articles about how Azure Media Services were certified for CDSA, and how it qualified.
Moving into the second phase of CDSA’s secure digital solution with Microsoft Power BI
The second phase of CDSA’s digital solution involves leveraging Power BI to generate more data and reports on employee use, based on aggregate data across applications and dashboards. The organization is also interested in exploring information consolidation, increasing capabilities around the secure sharing of information, and enhancing the management and tracking of metadata. With plans to develop new metadata management and aggregation guidelines, CDSA is keeping an eye on Microsoft products for new opportunities to strengthen security, communication, versatility, and organization across the film industry.
Related Content
- Read more Real Stories of Digital Transformation
- Learn more about CDSA’s modern approach to cybersecurity
