For businesses wanting to become FedRAMP compliant, the choice of cloud partner can be crucial to their success. With that in mind, here is a straightforward guide to why choosing the right cloud provider matters.
Established in 2011, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) standardizes security assessments and continuous monitoring. It therefore minimizes redundant efforts (and their associated costs) while strengthening cybersecurity.
All cloud service providers (CSPs) who wish to work with federal agencies must comply with FedRAMP. There are, however, different levels of compliance that reflect the different levels of data security required for federal data.
Low: For non-sensitive public data; minimal security controls.
Moderate: controlled unclassified information (CUI); requires 300+ security controls.
High: For highly sensitive data (e.g., national security); mandates 400+ controls.
FedRAMP authorization can be granted either by the Joint Authorization Board (JAB) or by federal agencies themselves. In the former case, CSPs must undergo a readiness assessment conducted by a third-party assessment organization (3PAO). In the latter case it is optional but highly recommended.
There are five main challenges to achieving FedRAMP compliance. Here is an overview of them.
To pursue FedRAMP authorization, CSPs need sponsorship from a federal agency or approval from the Joint Authorization Board (JAB). Securing sponsorship can be challenging, as agencies often prefer proven, low-risk solutions.
FedRAMP is based on NIST 800-53, which includes hundreds of security controls covering areas like encryption, access management, and continuous monitoring. Implementing these controls requires significant time, resources, and expertise, especially for organizations new to federal security standards.
The authorization to operate (ATO) process can take 6-18 months and cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in assessments, audits, and documentation. Cloud service providers (CSPs) must also work with a third-party assessment organization (3PAO) to verify security controls, further adding to costs and time.
Achieving FedRAMP certification is only the beginning. CSPs must conduct monthly security scans, annual audits, and ongoing reporting to maintain compliance. Any security vulnerabilities must be addressed immediately, requiring a dedicated team for long-term compliance.
Cyber threats evolve rapidly, and FedRAMP regularly updates its security requirements. CSPs must stay ahead of new risks while ensuring their systems meet the latest compliance standards, adding complexity to maintaining authorization.
Your cloud provider should become a real partner in your FedRAMP journey. Here are the five main ways they should be able to help you.
A cloud partner with FedRAMP experience helps navigate complex security requirements, ensuring all NIST 800-53 controls are properly implemented. Their expertise reduces compliance gaps and streamlines the authorization process.
Many cloud providers (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud) offer FedRAMP-certified environments, allowing organizations to build on an already compliant foundation. This reduces the scope of security implementation and speeds up the process.
FedRAMP requires extensive documentation, including a System Security Plan (SSP) and continuous monitoring reports. A cloud partner provides templates, tools, and guidance to ensure these documents meet FedRAMP standards.
FedRAMP compliance isn’t a one-time achievement. Cloud partners offer automated security tools, monitoring services, and regular updates to help organizations maintain compliance over time.
By leveraging a trusted cloud partner’s existing security controls and FedRAMP certifications, organizations can reduce compliance costs, shorten timelines, and scale securely as their needs evolve.
Here are the five key factors to consider when choosing the right FedRAMP cloud partner for your organization.
A strong cloud partner should have a track record of helping organizations achieve and maintain FedRAMP compliance. Look for providers with existing FedRAMP authorizations (Low, Moderate, or High) to reduce security implementation burdens.
Choose a partner that offers built-in encryption, access controls, threat detection, and automated compliance monitoring. These features help meet NIST 800-53 security controls and protect sensitive government data.
FedRAMP requirements evolve, so your cloud partner should support scalable solutions that can adapt to new compliance demands. Ensure they offer flexible deployment options, including public, private, and hybrid cloud environments.
A good cloud partner provides compliance documentation templates, automated reporting tools, and audit assistance to streamline the authorization process and ongoing compliance maintenance.
Achieving FedRAMP compliance is expensive and time-consuming. A reliable cloud partner should offer pre-approved environments, security automation, and expert guidance to reduce costs and shorten the path to authorization.
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a US federal government program that aims to standardize security assessments for the implementation of cloud services. FedRAMP sets standards that...
Obtaining FedRAMP certification can be expensive for cloud service providers (CSPs) due to pre-certification costs, certification costs, and post-certification costs. The FedRAMP certification cost is influenced by CSP size, the complexity of the service, chosen path to certification, the type of CSP, and the level of security required by the federal agency.
FedRAMP standards create a consistent methodology for evaluating and granting authorization to CSPs, guaranteeing their adherence to the necessary security controls, risk management, and ongoing monitoring requirements
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