The FedRAMP or the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program is a government-wide initiative that aims to standardize the approach to security assessment and authorization. It also tries to ensure continuous monitoring for different cloud service providers in order to assure adherence to government regulations.
In this process, an assessment of the FedRAMP is conducted by an accredited 3PAO as a means of assuring compliance. Companies that wish to expand the services they provide to government markets need to obtain an Authorization to Operate before engaging in transactions.
Unlike traditional assessment processes, the FedRAMP authorization is a special process based on the NIST Special Publication (SP) 800-53 Revision 4. Additionally, it has specific requirements depending on the impact of the different systems. Companies get to choose the kind of authorization path they wish to undertake. There is the Joint Authorization Board (JAB) or Agency. Prior to acceptance of the risk systems a company offers, CSPs are required to provide documentation as per FedRAMP template detailing their adherence to the requirements.
The following must be completed by the CSPs in navigating through the FedRAMP process:
- Readiness Assessment – A technical capability assessment to ensure that the CSP meets the minimum requirements to achieve a FedRAMP ATO.
- Advisory Consulting – Guidance or assistance with defining or developing the system, its boundary, and documenting the environment in FedRAMP documentation templates. Organizations use this service in preparation to meet FedRAMP requirements.
- FedRAMP Assessment – The full technical assessment to ensure CSPs compliance with NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 and FedRAMP controls.
- Continuous monitoring – Ongoing risk monitoring activities required to monitor and maintain the system after achieving a FedRAMP ATO.
Apart from this, the process requires ongoing interaction with the FedRAMP PMO or Agency ISSOs that oversee work-to-milestone project plans.
FedRAMP Secure Cloud Automation Services (SCAS)
Cloud Service Providers that wish to seek business with federal government are mandated to meet the regulations stated in the FedRAMP security requirements. Tar Technology engineers are well acquainted with the different challenges that CSPs face in terms of FedRAMP authorization.
Given that challenges that CSPs may encounter due to lack of resources, rigorous processes, and high cost of documentation, we, in conjunction with the Amazon Web Services (AWS), have combined NIST Advisory and Cyber Engineering in order to create a process that enables CSPs to be audited ready within 6 months.
Tar Technologies’ services remove the borders that make it difficult for CSPs to achieve the standards of FedRAMP compliance. Apart from that, we provide companies with pre-configured AWS, security partner services, and compliance documentation to ease the compliance process.
We leverage AWS CloudFormation, DevOps tools, and security best practices in our goal of creating a way for CSPs to easily gain certification according to FedRAMP regulations.
How Can Tar Technologies Help?
As an experienced FedRAMP assessment organization, Tar Technologies provides FedRAMP advisory and assessment services for cloud service providers (IaaS / PaaS / SaaS).
Tar Technologies FedRAMP Advisory and Assessment Services
Due to the difficulties involved in complying with FedRAMP regulations, we have developed different services that are engineered to match the FedRAMP regulations. This way, CSPs may be able to pursue their Authority to Operate.
- FedRAMP Readiness Assessment – Tar Technologies will conduct the required Readiness Capabilities Assessment to determine your cloud’s readiness for the full FedRAMP assessment.
- Consulting Advisory – We will advise on system architecture and documentation of the environment and security control implementations. Apart from that, we are capable of producing a System Security Plan (SSP), Policies and Plans, and other necessary system documentation for your organization.
- Pre-Assessment – We will perform a quick “gap” or inventory of your current cloud system documentation.
- Assessment – Tar Technologies will develop the required FedRAMP documentation, including a Security Assessment Plan (SAP), Security Requirements Traceability Matrix (SRTM) to document assessment results, Security Assessment Report (SAR), and recommendation for authorization.
- Continuous Monitoring – We will help with any monthly, quarterly, or annual continuous monitoring needs to maintain your authority to operate.
Why Choose Tar Technologies for your FedRAMP Assessment?
Tar Technologies are ready to provide clients with an unparalleled experience in both advising and assessing CSPs. This is done in order to help clients achieve FedRAMP authorization. With our experience in the field, Tar Technologies is capable of transforming the way government and commercial organizations work as they deploy IT services to the cloud.
- Tar Technologies has helped more CSPs attain a FedRAMP Authorization to Operate (ATO) than most of their competitors in the industry.
- Tar Technologies knows the process and best practices and understands FedRAMP requirements and JAB interpretation of controls.
- Tar Technologies teams are highly experienced and well versed in NIST 800-53 and DoD requirements and how they relate to commercial cloud environments and have incorporated this in our engineering process.