FedRAMP

Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP)

Cloud Service Providers Who Want to Offer Their Cloud Services to any US Government Agency Must Demonstrate FedRAMP Compliance.

Understanding FedRAMP

FedRAMP stands for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program. FedRAMP standardizes security assessments, authorizations, and continuous monitoring for Cloud products and services used by U.S. Federal Agencies. The goal is to make sure federal data is consistently protected at a high level in the Cloud.

A complete understanding of the FedRAMP requirements, frameworks, and best-practices.
A comprehensive skillset in Cybersecurity and Cloud – from Engineering and Management to Penetration Testing and Secure Hosting.
A comprehensive skillset in Compliance with CMMC, NIST, ISO, HITRUST, and FedRAMP.
Teams of Practitioners and Assessors Certified on FedRAMP Assessment processes and criteria.
A Process and Methodology that assures success from Readiness to Assessment and everything in between.
A strong understanding of the NIST 800-53 and Department of Defense requirements.
We have years of experience working with organizations to assess, implement, and manage modern security postures and support NIST 800, ISO, and HITRUST compliance programs.

FedRAMP is mandatory for Federal Agency Cloud deployments and service models at the low, moderate, and high-risk impact levels. In response to the Cloud First Policy, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued the FedRAMP Policy Memo to establish the first US Government-wide security authorization program for Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA). FedRAMP is mandatory for all US Federal Agencies and all Cloud Services they consume.

FedRAMP defines a set of cybersecurity controls for security impact level systems based on NIST baseline controls with in NIST SP 800-53 with a set of control enhancements that pertain to the unique security requirements of cloud computing.

FedRAMP empowers US Agencies to use modern Cloud Technologies, with an emphasis on security and protection of Federal information as well as aid in accelerating the adoption of secure Cloud solutions.

FedRAMP requires Cloud Service Providers to complete an independent security assessment conducted by a third-party assessment organization (3PAO) to ensure that authorizations are compliant with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA).

FedRAMP Consists of Two Primary Entities:

The Joint Authorization Board (JAB) and the Program Management Office (PMO). Members of the JAB include the chief information officers (CIOs) from the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and General Services Administration.
The JAB serves as the primary governance and decision-making body for FedRAMP.
The FedRAMP PMO resides within GSA and supports agencies and cloud service providers through the FedRAMP authorization process and maintains a secure repository of FedRAMP authorizations to enable reuse of security packages.

FedRAMP is Important Because it Increases:

Consistency and confidence in the security of cloud solutions using National Institutes of Standards & Technology (NIST) and FISMA defined standards
Transparency between US government and cloud providers
 Automation and near real time continuous monitoring
Adoption of secure cloud solutions through reuse of assessments and authorizations

Navigating the FedRAMP Compliance Requirements

Many smaller Cloud Service Providers struggle with in-house resources and staff that are required to meet the FedRAMP requirements. This is where a trusted partner like Digital Forge can make a positive impact.

Before a commercial cloud service can be used by a Federal Agency, it must demonstrate that it meets all FedRAMP compliance requirements. These requirements are detailed in NIST 800-53 and supplemented by the FedRAMP Program Management Office (PMO) and authorization is granted to the Cloud Service Provider through the provision of what is known as the FedRAMP Authority to Operate.

Cloud Providers must achieve the following high-level requirements to achieve
FedRAMP compliance and authorization:

Completion of FedRAMP documentation including the FedRAMP SSP.
Implementation of controls that comply with FIPS 199 categorization.
 Commercial cloud offerings will be assessed by a FedRAMP Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO).

Development of a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) .
Obtain Joint Authorization Board (JAB) Provisional ATO (P-ATO) or Agency ATO.
 Implementation of a Continuous Monitoring program including monthly vulnerability scans.

For many Cloud Service Providers, the most cost-effective path to meeting FedRAMP requirements is by partnering with an organization like Digital Forge, a firm which specializes in FedRAMP and working with Government Agencies. Digital Forge will work with your team and will develop a carefully crafted execution strategy, in a phased approach, to help you attain the FedRAMP certification. Beyond attaining and certifying your organization, Digital Forge has developed key methodologies and practices that can be implemented to ensure that your organization is able to continue its efforts and maintain its FedRAMP certification.

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FedRAMP Readiness Engagement

Prepare for your FedRAMP Engagement with confidence when partnering with Digital Forge.

Digital Forge will work with your team and perform a Readiness Assessment (also called a Gap Analysis) and provide your organization critical feedback on potential gaps and outcomes. This Readiness Assessment is key to ensuring your organizations can successfully attain and maintain a FedRAMP Certification.

Readiness Assessment
To start, Digital Forge will conduct a Readiness Assessment and review the FedRAMP process and requirements with your organization to help you prepare for the FedRAMP Assessment Engagement. During this review, Digital Forge will explain the certification assessment process and detail the necessary documentation, the required level of details, and time periods. At the conclusion of the Readiness Assessment, Digital Force will prepare a Readiness Report and help your organization determine if they are prepared or not for FedRAMP.

Gap Assessment
Digital Forge will conduct a complete Gap Assessment, which completely follows the FedRAMP guidelines and will function like a real FedRAMP Assessment, however it is a Gap Assessment, so findings are not permanently recorded as part of a final report. At the conclusion of this engagement, Digital Forge will provide you a thorough Gap Assessment report with recommendations and findings regarding the existence of any discrepancies.

The Readiness and Gap Assessments include:

A complete business analysis to determine the cost-benefit justification of achieving FedRAMP certification of your Cloud solution.

Personnel interviews, stakeholder interviews, and thorough documentation review.
Digital Forge will perform a Vulnerability Assessment which covers vulnerability scanning of networks, databases, and in-scope applications to ensure environments are properly secured and vulnerabilities can be remediated within the timeframes required by FedRAMP.
Verification of Assessment scopes against FedRAMP requirements.
A review of critical control implementations, including FedRAMP required Federal Mandates.
The briefing and education of the company leadership and stakeholders regarding final assessment requirements, timelines, and likelihood of Authority to Operate (ATO) designation.

Digital Forge will deliver a comprehensive roadmap to become FedRAMP Ready.
Consultations regarding navigating the conversations around potential agencies and sponsors.
An analysis of Cybersecurity controls implementation as well as remediation support.
Assist in the creation of a roadmap for FedRAMP authorization and maintenance.
Thorough technology, network and cybersecurity architecture review and design support.

Assistance with FedRAMP security documentation development where needed.
Assistance during the FedRAMP assessment with evidence collection, personnel interviews, plan of action and milestones development, and related documentation updates.

FedRAMP Assessment Engagement

As an A2LA Accredited Provider, Digital Forge and our years of proven approach and methodologies in cybersecurity and compliance are leveraged to ensure your Assessment and ongoing maintenance success.

Digital Forge will work with your team and will develop a carefully crafted execution strategy, in a phased approach, to help you attain FedRAMP based on your Cloud offering.

Beyond attaining and certifying your organization, Digital Forge has developed key methodologies and practices that can be implemented to ensure that your organization is able to continue its efforts and maintain its FedRAMP ATO.

Digital Forge will assign a Certified Assessor (s) within our team who works with your organization throughout the process.
Our FedRAMP Assessment engagements begin with a comprehensive assessment kick-off session, bonding all parties and stakeholders who will be involved in the Assessment.
Key stakeholders, sponsors, and contact points are established as well as clear path forward for the engagement.
The next steps revolve completely around performing the assessment which varies in timing based on the organizations size, requirements, and complexity.
Digital Forge will conduct a security controls assessment against NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4.
Digital Forge will conduct a comprehensive Vulnerability scanning of the environments.
Digital Forge will conduct a comprehensive Penetration test of the environments.
The FedRAMP Assessment team evaluates each practice area, adhering to the guidelines and criteria established by the FedRAMP.
Your FedRAMP Assessment team then summarizes all findings and prepares a comprehensive report that is reviewed with your organization.
Digital Forge will then forward the report and its findings to the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board (JAB) or sponsoring agency to make a decision regarding issuance of an ATO.

Cloud Readiness Services for Private and Public Clouds.
FedRAMP DevOPS Readiness Services.
Cloud and DevOPS Maintenance Services.
Comprehensive FedRAMP Documentation Services.
Cybersecurity Architecture and Maintenance Services.
Information Security Policy Drafting.
Continuity and Contingency Planning.
Incident Response Planning.
Privacy Practices Advisory Services.
Vulnerability Testing Services.
Penetration Testing Services.
Cybersecurity Hardening Services.
Managed Enhanced Detection and Response (EDR) Security Monitoring Services.
Managed Security Operations Center (SOC) Services.
Cloud and DevOps Infrastructure Services.

FedRAMP Supportive Services

Digital Forge offers a comprehensive set of supportive services which can be employed during a Readiness or ATO Assessment. Working closely with your organization, our compliance, cybersecurity, and technology advisors help architect and develop protocols and controls that meet FedRAMP requirements.

Why Digital Forge for FedRAMP

For many Cloud Solution Providers to the Federal Government and Military, the most cost-effective path to meeting FedRAMP requirements is by partnering with an organization like Digital Forge, engaging in Readiness planning and Assessment engagements. As experienced and mature company Digital Forge is supported with unique qualifications to ensure your success in your FedRAMP initiatives.

A complete understanding of the FedRAMP requirements, frameworks, and best-practices.
A comprehensive skillset in Cybersecurity and Cloud – from Engineering and Management to Penetration Testing and Secure Hosting.
A comprehensive skillset in Compliance with CMMC, NIST, ISO, HITRUST, and FedRAMP.
Teams of Practitioners and Assessors Certified on FedRAMP Assessment processes and criteria.
A Process and Methodology that assures success from Readiness to Assessment and everything in between.
A strong understanding of the NIST 800-53 and Department of Defense requirements.
We have years of experience working with organizations to assess, implement, and manage modern security postures and support NIST 800, ISO, and HITRUST compliance programs.