The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a security assessment and authorization program for cloud services used by the federal government. It is designed to ensure that cloud services meet the federal government’s security requirements, and that sensitive government data remains protected. A critical component of the FedRAMP security authorization process is the… Read More
We’ve previously discussed ISO 27701 and how it refines two essential security standards and control libraries (ISO 27001 and ISO 27002). But, the entire purpose of ISO 27701 is to align IT systems with privacy requirements found under GDPR. Here, we’ll discuss the third section of this document that defines additional guidelines for organizations acting… Read More
StateRAMP guidelines include network security standards from NIST 800-53, with specific requirements for implementing those guidelines based on the application and data processing. Implementing boundary controls is one of the more relevant and sometimes challenging aspects of compliance network security. Here, we will dig into how StateRAMP (and FedRAMP, to some extent) approach subnetworks and… Read More
In the unfortunate event that a breach occurs, organizations must have a plan in place to respond and recover. StateRAMP borrows requirements from FedRAMP and NIST 800-53 to define how exactly state and local governments can implement incident response into their overall security infrastructure.
The International Organization for Standardization wrote ISO 27701 to align the standards of the ISO 27001 series with privacy-based standards like GDPR and CCPA. As such, it addresses the core requirements of that standard and refines them so that organizations don’t have to fumble in the dark about adapting their existing ISO certifications to larger… Read More
Private security standards like those from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) generally seek some alignment with major regulations so that certified organizations can effectively adapt to new and rigorous standards. Accordingly, the ISO 27701 standard seeks to refine the standard ISO cybersecurity certifications to match evolving security laws in jurisdictions like the EU. In… Read More
As the old saying goes, the weakest link in any security system is the user. This isn’t an insult but rather a commentary on the impossibility of eliminating every vulnerability in a system that humans have to use daily. In terms of actually mitigating direct security threats associated with users, however, there can be no… Read More
ISO/IEC 27018 establishes commonly accepted control objectives to protect Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in line with the privacy principles in ISO/IEC 29100 for cloud providers offering public infrastructure and services. It is a critical document for these providers seeking to instill the trustworthiness of their systems in their customers and clients. Learn more about ISO… Read More
Much hay has been made about how cloud providers can take advantage of the new StateRAMP program. Only a few years into operations, there are already questions about how governments and cloud providers can leverage the requirements to bring top-tier cybersecurity to a local level. One of these questions involves the adoption of StateRAMP standards… Read More
Businesses undergoing ISO certification are probably aware of the 27000 series and its focus on comprehensive cybersecurity. What many organizations don’t know, however, is that the series itself provides guidelines for risk managers to better implement Information Security Management Systems (the core process of ISO 27001) following best risk management practices.
In February 2022, the FedRAMP Program Management Office updated the rules for their threat-based profiling methodology. This little-known approach to FedRAMP risk profiling and the rating security controls serves as the program’s effort to streamline authorization and program management with industry knowledge and agile development methodologies.
The cloud service ecosystem for FedRAMP authorization has been growing year over year, as has the demand for the reuse of cloud products across agencies. To facilitate cloud product adoption across different agencies without compromising security and usability, FedRAMP provides a quick process to help reuse these services.
GDPR has needed a centralized assessment and certification model for some time now. Still, with the plethora of certifications and standards covering different business contexts, there has yet to be a single approach that has risen to the top of the heap. However, the governing bodies of GDPR have authorized the new Europrivacy standard to… Read More
With the growth of the EU as an economic power, businesses in the United States are working to make headway into this lucrative commercial market. However, they are rapidly learning that the IT and data-driven practices standard in the U.S. will not stand in the GDPR-regulated European Union. There are some basic preparations that any… Read More
One of the foundational pieces of information that a cloud provider needs to know when preparing for their FedRAMP Authorization is the required Impact Level. These levels aren’t generic labels applied by agencies to highlight the importance of their data–they are clearly-defined categories laid out by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to… Read More
There’s no doubt GDPR is shaking up the business landscape. Companies that spent time handling personal data relatively laxly are now faced with strict and comprehensive laws governing digital marketing and data use in the EU. Nowhere is this more apparent than in business disclosure and data access laws.
The National Voluntary Laboratory Accreditation Program (NVLAP) handles lab and testing requirements for several categories of products and services, several within cybersecurity. One of the most important categories is cryptographic testing and validation.
Companies inside and outside the European Union are feeling the impact of GDPR–and if you’ve noticed the glut of complex and long-winded cookie notifications, you can see why. Businesses looking to operate data processing infrastructure or collect data in the EU must comply with GDPR. To streamline the process, the EU recently approved a central… Read More
When we discuss cybersecurity, it’s most often done in the context of audits, assessments, or certifications. However, specific systems and components require more stringent testing standards, ensuring that the technology functions correctly and securely after construction or during ongoing operational use. To support the testing and assurance of these components, the National Institutes of Standards… Read More
Providers looking into StateRAMP authentication standards may find themselves staring into a stack of requirements documents across multiple security frameworks and government contexts. Not only is this unhelpful for these providers, but it also makes the process sound much more intimidating than it needs to be. In this article, we’ll take a high-level view of… Read More
Penetration tests sometimes seem like an extreme measure that ultra-secure companies take to fend off the most formidable threats. However, any company wanting to get serious about cybersecurity and compliance will sometimes run against the practice. This is similar to when working with the federal government. Here, we’ll discuss FedRAMP and penetration testing requirements.
FedRAMP Authorization is a complicated undertaking due in no small part to the layers of requirements that cloud offerings must meet throughout the process. As part of the government’s turn to more comprehensive security, FedRAMP requirements include significant risk management standards that all providers must meet.
Regarding cybersecurity and compliance, there is a massive benefit in having a deep field of providers and offerings that can serve large federal customers alongside smaller offerings that can serve the state, local, and municipal customers. It’s essential, however, to ensure that maintaining a competitive marketplace doesn’t compromise security. This means helping small or young… Read More
There are two clear paths through FedRAMP Authorization–the agency path and the much less-common Joint Authorization Board (JAB) path. While much more rigorous, this second course opens up several critical doors for cloud offerings that provide real and significant value to various federal agencies. However, the JAB path is exclusive and requires that cloud service… Read More