Why is it needed?

• Standardization of Security Assessments: FedRAMP provides a consistent framework for assessing and authorizing cloud services, ensuring all federal agencies adhere to the same rigorous security standards.
  
  
• Risk Reduction: By implementing a standardized approach to security, FedRAMP reduces the risk of data breaches and cyber threats across federal cloud environments.
  
  
• Efficiency in Procurement: FedRAMP streamlines the procurement process for federal agencies by offering a centralized certification, saving time and resources when adopting cloud services.

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What is FedRAMP, what does it do, and how does it help?

• What is FedRAMP?: FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a U.S. government program that standardizes the security assessment and authorization process for cloud services used by federal agencies.
  
  
• What Does It Do?: It provides a unified, risk-based approach to ensure that cloud services meet stringent security requirements, involving rigorous testing, assessment, and continuous monitoring.
  
  
• How Does It Help?: FedRAMP helps federal agencies adopt secure cloud solutions efficiently by reducing redundancy, enhancing security, and providing a standardized framework for cloud service providers.

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Key FedRAMP Terminology

• FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program): A U.S. government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services.
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• Authorization to Operate (ATO): The official management decision by a federal agency to authorize a cloud service for use, based on its security posture and risk assessment. ATOs are agency-specific and indicate that the cloud service meets the agency's security requirements.
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• Provisional Authorization to Operate (P-ATO): A provisional ATO granted by the Joint Authorization Board (JAB) for a cloud service provider (CSP). It indicates that the CSP meets FedRAMP security standards, but individual agencies must still approve its use.
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• Joint Authorization Board (JAB): A board comprising CIOs from the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and General Services Administration (GSA). The JAB reviews and grants P-ATOs to CSPs based on rigorous security assessments.
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• Cloud Service Provider (CSP): A company or organization that offers cloud-based services, such as infrastructure, platforms, or software, to customers, including federal agencies. CSPs must meet FedRAMP requirements to offer services to federal agencies.
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• Cloud Service Offering (CSO): The specific cloud service or product offered by a CSP that undergoes the FedRAMP authorization process. Examples include IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS solutions.
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• Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO): An independent organization accredited by FedRAMP to perform security assessments of CSPs. 3PAOs evaluate CSPs' cloud services against FedRAMP requirements and provide an independent verification of their security controls.
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• System Security Plan (SSP): A comprehensive document that outlines the security requirements of a cloud service and describes the controls in place to meet those requirements. The SSP is a key component of the FedRAMP authorization package submitted for review.
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• Security Assessment Report (SAR): A report produced by a 3PAO that documents the findings from a security assessment, including any vulnerabilities or non-compliance issues. The SAR is used to determine whether a cloud service meets FedRAMP security requirements.
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• Continuous Monitoring (ConMon): The ongoing process of monitoring the security posture of a cloud service after it has received an ATO or P-ATO. Continuous monitoring involves regular security checks, vulnerability scans, and reporting to ensure the service remains compliant with FedRAMP requirements.
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• Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M): A document outlining a CSP's plans to address any security vulnerabilities or deficiencies identified during the security assessment or continuous monitoring. It includes specific actions, timelines, and milestones for resolving issues.
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• FedRAMP Ready: A designation given to a CSP's cloud service that has successfully completed a readiness assessment by a 3PAO and is ready to undergo the full FedRAMP authorization process. This status indicates that a CSP is prepared to meet FedRAMP requirements.
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• FedRAMP Authorized: A designation for cloud services that have successfully completed the FedRAMP authorization process and have been granted an ATO by an agency or a P-ATO by the JAB. This status indicates that the service is approved for use by federal agencies.
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• Impact Levels (Low, Moderate, High): FedRAMP categorizes cloud services based on the potential impact of a security breach:
  • Low Impact: Minimal adverse effects on organizational operations or assets.
  • Moderate Impact: Serious adverse effects on organizational operations, assets, or individuals.
  • High Impact: Severe or catastrophic adverse effects on organizational operations, assets, or individuals.
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• High Baseline: The set of security controls required for cloud services that handle data at the "High Impact" level. It includes 421 security controls to ensure robust protection against high-risk threats.
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• Moderate Baseline: The set of security controls required for cloud services that handle data at the "Moderate Impact" level, typically including 325 security controls.
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• Low Baseline: The set of security controls required for cloud services handling data at the "Low Impact" level, typically including 125 security controls.
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• FedRAMP Marketplace: An online repository that lists all FedRAMP-authorized cloud services, including details on their security posture and authorization status. It serves as a resource for federal agencies to find and evaluate authorized cloud services.
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• Initial Assessment: The comprehensive security evaluation conducted by a 3PAO to determine if a CSP's cloud service meets FedRAMP requirements. This assessment includes vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and documentation review.
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• Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM): A set of tools and processes that provide federal agencies with capabilities to monitor and manage their IT environments continuously, enhancing their ability to detect, respond to, and mitigate security incidents.
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• Readiness Assessment Report (RAR): A report prepared by a 3PAO to document the initial findings of a CSP's readiness for the FedRAMP process. It identifies any gaps in the CSP's security posture and provides recommendations for achieving FedRAMP Ready status.
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• Leveraged Authorization: The process by which a federal agency can rely on an existing ATO or P-ATO from another agency or the JAB to authorize a CSP's cloud service for their use, reducing the need for redundant assessments.
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• Risk Management Framework (RMF): The structured approach used by FedRAMP to identify, assess, and manage risks associated with cloud services. The RMF includes steps such as categorizing information systems, selecting controls, implementing controls, assessing controls, authorizing information systems, and continuous monitoring.
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• Security Categorization: The process of determining the impact level (Low, Moderate, High) of a cloud service based on the potential impact of a security breach on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
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• Security Control Baseline: A predefined set of security controls selected for a cloud service based on its impact level. The baseline provides a minimum standard for securing cloud services in the federal environment.
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• Inheritable Controls: Security controls that a CSP can inherit from another authorized cloud service, reducing the burden of implementing and assessing the same controls independently.
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• Threat-Based Risk Management (TBRM): An approach that focuses on identifying and mitigating specific threats to a cloud service, aligning security controls with the most significant risks to ensure effective protection.
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• Assessment and Authorization (A&A): The process of evaluating a cloud service's security controls, identifying any risks, and determining whether it meets FedRAMP requirements for authorization.
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• Agency Authority to Operate (ATO): The formal approval granted by a specific federal agency for a CSP to provide cloud services, based on a detailed assessment of the CSP's security controls and risk management practices.
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• Penetration Testing: An authorized simulated attack on a cloud service to evaluate the effectiveness of its security controls and identify potential vulnerabilities. This is a required component of the FedRAMP assessment process.

FedRAMP Application Process?

Agency Route vs JAB Route

When to Choose Each Route

As a Cloud Service Provider (CSP):

• Choose the Agency Route When:
  • You have an existing strong relationship with a specific federal agency that is willing to sponsor your service.
  • Your cloud service is tailored for or primarily targeted at one or a few federal agencies, rather than a broad, multi-agency market.
  • You want a potentially faster path to authorization, especially if the agency’s requirements align well with your current security posture.
  • Your organization has limited resources, and you want to avoid the more resource-intensive JAB assessment process.
• Choose the JAB Route When:
  • You aim to offer your cloud service broadly across multiple federal agencies and need a single, widely accepted authorization.
  • Your service has a strong security posture and you are prepared for a rigorous, comprehensive assessment process.
  • You have the resources and time to commit to the JAB process, which may be more demanding but provides broader market access.
  • You want to build credibility and trust across multiple agencies with a centralized FedRAMP authorization (P-ATO).

As a Customer (Federal Agency):

• Choose a CSP Authorized via the Agency Route When:
  • You have specific security requirements or unique needs that are best addressed through a tailored, agency-specific assessment process.
  • You prefer to work closely with a CSP to ensure their service meets your particular operational and compliance needs.
  • You are considering a cloud service that may not need to be widely deployed across multiple federal agencies.
• Choose a CSP Authorized via the JAB Route When:
  • You want to leverage a cloud service that is already broadly accepted by multiple federal agencies, reducing the need for additional assessments.
  • You are looking for a cloud service that has undergone a more rigorous, centralized assessment process, providing assurance of a high security standard.
  • You prefer a cloud service that is suitable for use across various departments and agencies, providing flexibility for future deployments.

FedRAMP Impact Levels

FedRAMP vs Department of Defense Impact Levels:

• FedRAMP Applies to All Federal Agencies, Including DoD: FedRAMP provides a standardized approach to security for cloud services used by all federal agencies, including the Department of Defense (DoD). It establishes baseline security requirements based on NIST SP 800-53 controls at Low, Moderate, and High impact levels.
  
  
• DoD Has Additional Requirements Due to Sensitivity: Because the DoD deals with highly sensitive and critical information, it has defined additional security controls beyond the FedRAMP baselines to address its unique needs. These are encapsulated in the DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide (SRG) and are categorized into specific DoD Impact Levels (IL2 to IL6).
  
  
• Focus Your Sales Pitch Accordingly:
  • For Federal Agencies (Other Than DoD): Emphasize FedRAMP compliance (Low, Moderate, High) as these agencies will primarily focus on FedRAMP requirements for cloud security.
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  • For the Department of Defense (DoD): Highlight compliance with DoD Impact Levels (IL2 to IL6) in addition to FedRAMP. It's crucial to demonstrate that your cloud services not only meet FedRAMP standards but also adhere to the specific, more stringent controls required by the DoD for different types of data (e.g., CUI, classified information).

DoD Impact Levels