FedRAMP

FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a United States government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. It was established to accelerate the adoption of secure cloud solutions by the federal government and to reduce duplicative and inconsistent security assessment processes.

FedRAMP’s primary goal is to ensure the protection of federal data residing in cloud environments. It achieves this by requiring Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to demonstrate compliance with a rigorous set of security controls based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Special Publication 800-53, tailored to the cloud environment.

Key Concepts:

• Authorization: FedRAMP authorization signifies that a CSP has met the required security standards and is approved for use by federal agencies. There are two main paths to authorization:

  • Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO): Granted by the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board (JAB), composed of the Chief Information Officers (CIOs) from the Department of Defense (DoD), the General Services Administration (GSA), and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). A JAB P-ATO indicates the highest level of scrutiny and authorization.
  • Agency Authorization: Granted by an individual federal agency. An agency authorization is specific to that agency's needs and risk tolerance.

• Security Controls: These are safeguards or countermeasures prescribed for an information system to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system and its information. FedRAMP utilizes a baseline of NIST 800-53 controls, scaled and tailored to the cloud environment.

• Cloud Service Provider (CSP): An organization that provides cloud computing services to federal agencies. CSPs seeking FedRAMP authorization must undergo independent security assessments.

• Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO): Independent organizations accredited by FedRAMP to conduct security assessments of CSPs. 3PAOs are responsible for verifying that CSPs meet the required security controls.

• Continuous Monitoring: FedRAMP requires CSPs to continuously monitor their systems and report any security incidents or changes that could impact the security posture of their cloud service.

Benefits of FedRAMP:

• Standardization: Provides a consistent and repeatable framework for assessing and authorizing cloud services.
• Security: Enhances the security of federal data in the cloud by requiring CSPs to implement robust security controls.
• Cost Savings: Reduces the need for individual agencies to conduct their own security assessments, resulting in cost savings and improved efficiency.
• Accelerated Adoption: Facilitates the adoption of secure cloud solutions by federal agencies.
• Reciprocity: Allows agencies to leverage existing FedRAMP authorizations, reducing the time and effort required to onboard new cloud services.

Process Overview:

The FedRAMP authorization process typically involves the following steps:

1. CSP Readiness Assessment: A 3PAO assesses the CSP's readiness to meet FedRAMP security requirements.
2. Security Package Development: The CSP develops a comprehensive security package that includes documentation such as the System Security Plan (SSP), Security Assessment Report (SAR), and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M).
3. Security Assessment: A 3PAO conducts an independent assessment of the CSP's security controls.
4. Authorization Decision: The JAB or a federal agency reviews the security package and makes an authorization decision.
5. Continuous Monitoring: The CSP continuously monitors its system and provides regular reports to the authorizing body.