FedRAMP

About

Your Path to Government Cloud Compliance

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a program created by the US government to standardize security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) that conduct business with US government agencies, with the end goal of minimizing risk for Authorization Officials (AOs).

In this program, a third-party assessment organization (3PAO) examines the CSP’s security against NSIT 800-53 and FedRAMP security controls, and the US government issues certifications based on the review results. FedRAMP is crucial because it assures uniformity in both the security of the government’s cloud services and the evaluation and monitoring of that security. It establishes a single set of guidelines for all government departments and cloud providers and is also an excellent resource for finding a secure cloud product or service.

Who Needs FedRAMP

Any CSP that plans on conducting business with a US Government Agency needs to hold a FedRAMP Authority to Operate (ATO). Additionally, FedRAMP certification may boost any client’s confidence in security processes as it demonstrates a continual commitment to upholding the utmost security standards.

FedRAMP certification increases your organization’s security credibility beyond the FedRAMP Marketplace. Organizations can publicize their FedRAMP approval, displaying their due diligence and priority on security standards. When it comes time to closing business deals, holding a FedRAMP certificate may be less significant for some sectors, but for clients in both the public and commercial sectors who grasp the concept of FedRAMP, a lack of authorization could be a deal breaker.

What Can Elevate Do For Your Organization

At Elevate, we believe there should be a separation between the readiness team and the auditors to create an unbiased, conflict-of-interest-free environment. Elevate conducts the below services to assist you in your FedRAMP journey:

• Readiness Assessment – Elevate will conduct a readiness assessment and determine if the minimum requirements for a FedRAMP ATO are met. After the assessment is complete, Elevate can work with the 3PAO on your behalf during the preparation of the Readiness Assessment Report (RAR) to include in your FedRAMP submission for a JAB authorization. Topics covered in this assessment are boundary validation, policy, and procedure status, assessment of mandatory technical requirements, change management maturity, vendor dependencies, etc.

A readiness Assessment is only needed for CSPs looking to obtain a JAB P-ATO – for CSPs who are seeking an ATO directly from a federal agency, a Readiness Assessment is not required.

• Advisory Consulting – Elevate will provide expert consulting on your organization’s security control, system architecture, and environment, providing you with updated policies and procedures, System Security Plan (SSP), and other relevant documentation to attain FedRAMP Compliance (e.g. configuration management plan, business continuity plan, hardening standards, etc.).
• Penetration Testing and Continuous Scanning – Elevate can perform Penetration Testing and Continuous Scanning in accordance with FedRAMP guidelines.
• Continuous Monitoring – FedRAMP requires continuous monitoring to take place to maintain system compliance after achieving a FedRAMP ATO – Elevate can conduct continuous monitoring on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.

Throughout the above services, Elevate will provide you with the proper documentation necessary for your FedRAMP submission. These items include:

• System Security Plan (SSP)
• Configuration Management Plan (CMP)
• Business Continuity Plan (BCP)
• Cyber Incident Response Plan (CIRP)
• Rules of Behavior (RoB)
• Information System Contingency Plan (ISCP)
• FedRAMP compliant Policies & Procedures (P&P)
• Security Requirements Traceability Matrix (SRTM)

Intensive assessments such as the FedRAMP certification can be an intimidating burden to navigate, especially for those who are not regularly conducting them. To conduct the most cost-effective and time-efficient assessment, it is important to properly prepare.