What is fedRAMP and How to Become fedRAMP Authorized

The federal government is the biggest buyer of cloud technology. The sole reason is that it handles the large amounts of data that need to be stored and secured.

Any cloud service provider looking to partner with the federal government will need a green light from the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAM).

In this article, I will explain what FedRAMP is and how to become a fedRAMP authorized. Keep reading for more.

What is fedRAMP

FedRAMP is a federal policy initiative that provides a standardization approach to security for cloud service providers partnering with the government.

Adopted in 2011, the framework empowers federal agencies to use modern cloud securities by authorizing and working with only authorized Cloud Service Providers (CSPs).

This means that individual government agencies must authorize CSPs based on the best cloud technology practices in the market. Once an agency has agreed to work with a CSP, they must collaborate throughout the authorization process, including a continuous monitoring process.

How to Become fedRAMP Authorized

There are five steps to becoming FedRAMP authorized. These steps include:

Readiness Assessment

The readiness assessment involves working with the accredited Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) to assess the CSP’s cloud service offerings. The aim is to produce a Readiness Assessment Report (RAR) that ascertains the CSP’s preparedness to meet the particular agency's cloud service needs.

While readiness assessment is not mandatory, it must demonstrate the CSP’s capability to meet and adhere to the federal government’s security requirements.

Pre-Authorization

The pre-authorization step involves formalizing the partnership between the CSP and the federal agency they have entered into a deal with. Here, the two entities make the necessary technical and procedural adjustments to meet the needs and preferences of both parties.

At this stage, the CSP should be able to demonstrate its cloud infrastructure, including the teams, build servers, and the data categories that will be stirred in the system.

The pre-authorization ends with a meeting between the CSP and the federal agencies to assess and finalize the deal.

Full Security Assessment

The full security assessment stage involves the 3PAO independently assessing the CSP’s cloud infrastructure. The 3PAO then writes a Security Assessment Report (SAR), which details the condition of the CSP’s cloud infrastructure.

The CSP is then required to develop a Plan Of Action and Milestone (POA&M), incorporating the 3PAO's feedback and detailing how it will deliver the cloud services.

Agency Authorization Process

At this stage, the federal agency conducts a security authorization package review based on the 3PAO findings and the CSP’s SAR. The agency also tests the CSP’s cloud infrastructure to determine its suitability to meet its cloud service needs, including its risk tolerance and responsiveness, among other requirements.

The agency then issues an Authority To Operate (ATO) to seal the partnership.

To conclude this stage, two things need to happen:

• The CSP uploads the Authorization Package Checklist and the complete security package (SSP and attachments, POA&M, and Agency ATO letter), except the security assessment material, to FedRAMP’s secure repository.
• The 3PAO uploads all security assessment material (SAP, SAR, and attachments) associated with the CSO security package to FedRAMP’s secure repository.

The FedRAMP project management office reviews these documents and enlists the deal into the FedRAMP Marketplace.

Continuous Monitoring

If the CSP’s services agree with the federal security standards, the agency must continuously monitor them. Thus, the CPS must provide monthly and annual reports on the state of its cloud infrastructure, including vulnerability scans, complete security assessments, and necessary changes.

Partner With Us Today

Ready to become FedRAMP authorized? Come partner with us at Swif to help you get a security assessment report (SAR).

At Swif, we are an accredited FedRAMP 3PAO and are ready to assist you with the necessary cloud assessment to obtain your FedRAMP authorization. We have over 20 years of combined IT management experience, and our IT products and services have proven to meet the needs of the new-generation global workforce.