Best SharePoint Intranet Approach for Government & GCC High
A Practical Guide for Microsoft 365 Government Environments
Introduction
Government and public sector organizations using Microsoft 365 Government (including GCC High) face unique requirements when modernizing their SharePoint intranet.
Decisions are influenced by:
Data residency and tenant boundaries
Security and compliance obligations
Long-term maintainability
Limited tolerance for architectural risk
This guide outlines the most common intranet approaches used in government environments and how organizations evaluate which option is the best fit.
What makes government & GCC High different
Government environments differ from commercial Microsoft 365 tenants in several important ways:
Restricted cloud boundaries (GCC / GCC High)
Limited access to third-party SaaS services
Strict approval and procurement processes
Emphasis on least privilege and auditability
Longer platform lifecycles
Because of this, intranet solutions that work well in commercial tenants may not be suitable for government environments without careful review.
Common SharePoint intranet approaches in government
1) Custom SPFx development
What it is
Custom SharePoint Framework (SPFx) web parts built by internal teams or vendors
Deployed directly into the government tenant
Why organizations choose it
Maximum control over functionality
Full alignment with tenant boundaries
No external hosting dependencies
Trade-offs
Longer development timelines
Ongoing maintenance responsibility
Dependency on specialized SharePoint developers
2) Hosted intranet platforms
What it is
Third-party intranet platforms hosted outside Microsoft 365
Often integrated via APIs or embedded experiences
Considerations for government
External hosting may not be permitted
Additional security reviews are often required
Cross-boundary data handling must be evaluated carefully
Because of these factors, hosted platforms are often excluded early in government procurement processes.
3) In-tenant SharePoint intranet solutions (SPFx-based)
What it is
Pre-built intranet solutions deployed directly into the tenant using SPFx
Configured rather than custom-built
Why organizations choose it
Faster deployment than custom development
Alignment with native SharePoint security and permissions
Reduced long-term maintenance burden
This approach is increasingly common in GCC and GCC High environments.
Key evaluation criteria for GCC High intranets
Tenant boundaries
Government organizations typically prefer solutions that:
Run entirely inside the tenant
Do not transmit data outside Microsoft 365
Do not rely on commercial cloud endpoints
Security & access control
Preferred solutions:
Use native SharePoint authentication
Respect Microsoft 365 role-based access controls
Do not require persistent third-party access
Maintainability
Intranet solutions should:
Remain compatible with Microsoft platform updates
Minimize custom code ownership
Support predictable long-term operation
Deployment predictability
Government teams often prioritize:
Known deployment models
Clear rollback paths
Low operational complexity
Typical recommended approach
For many government and public sector organizations, the most practical approach is:
An in-tenant SharePoint intranet solution for core intranet needs, combined with limited custom SPFx development for specialized requirements.
This hybrid approach balances:
Security and compliance
Time to value
Long-term sustainability
Where Origami fits
Origami is designed to operate entirely inside Microsoft 365, including GCC High environments.
It is commonly evaluated by organizations that:
Require strict tenant isolation
Cannot rely on externally hosted platforms
Want faster intranet rollout without long-term custom development ownership
Origami is built using Microsoft’s SharePoint Framework and follows native SharePoint deployment, permission, and security models.
Frequently asked questions
Does Origami support GCC High?
Yes. Origami supports Microsoft 365 GCC High environments and operates fully within tenant boundaries.
Does Origami host or transmit data outside the tenant?
No. Origami does not host SharePoint content or transmit telemetry outside the customer’s Microsoft 365 tenant.
Can Origami coexist with custom SPFx solutions?
Yes. Origami is designed to work alongside custom SPFx development where specialized functionality is required.
Is this approach suitable for regulated environments?
Yes. In-tenant SPFx-based intranet solutions are commonly used in regulated and government environments due to their alignment with Microsoft 365 security controls.
Final guidance
There is no one-size-fits-all intranet solution for government organizations.
However, approaches that:
Stay within tenant boundaries
Minimize external dependencies
Balance speed with long-term ownership