FedRAMP Articles

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – August 3 2017

This week, FedRAMP published QA and a tip that discusses POA&Ms and inventory: Q: What constitutes a unique finding for Plan of Actions & Milestones (POA&M) reporting and how should CSPs group related findings on the POA&M? A: The weakness identifier, asset identifier, and original detection date are elements that constitutes a new finding. If vulnerabilities are...

What is ATO as a Service™ for Azure?

The process to obtain an Azure FedRAMP ATO is time consuming, manual, and paper-intensive. Until now! Introducing ATO as a Service™, an exclusive Software as a Service that automates FedRAMP processes, and shortens FedRAMP ATO timeframes for information systems hosted in the Azure Government Cloud. cFocus Software has partnered with Microsoft Corporation to develop the offering,...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – July 27 2017

This week, FedRAMP published a weekly tip that discusses the use of non-US persons support and updating SSP officials: TIP: A CSP using non-US persons to support their system is FedRAMP compliant, but will find their market limited among Federal agencies. Using non-US persons to support a FedRAMP system is a business decision the CSP must...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – July 20 2017

This week, FedRAMP published two tips that discuss Cloud Service Offering Assessments and the requirements for a security assessment report and readiness assessment report: TIP: What does a typical Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) Team performing a Cloud Service Offering (CSO) assessment look like according to FedRAMP? FedRAMP requires that all assessments must be staffed by an...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – July 13 2017

This week, FedRAMP published a weekly tip that discusses requirements for vulnerability scanning: Q: What are the FedRAMP requirements for vulnerability scanning? A: Vulnerability scanning must occur for Operating System (OS)/ infrastructure, databases, and web application components in the Cloud Service offering authorization boundary. The scanning parameters for the components must be defined in the Security...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – July 6 2017

This week, FedRAMP published a weekly tip that discusses email notifications and background checks on staff members. TIP: When submitting a RAR or an authorization package, be sure to send an email notification to info@fedramp.gov. Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), Partnering Agencies, and/or Third Party Assessment Organizations (3PAOs) must send an email notification to info@fedramp.gov to let...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – June 29 2017

This week, FedRAMP published a weekly tip that discusses POA&Ms and testing evidence timeliness. Q: What purpose does the Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) document serve? A: The purpose of the POA&M is to facilitate a disciplined and structured approach to mitigating risks in accordance with the CSP’s risk mitigation strategy. The POA&Ms include...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – June 22 2017

This week, FedRAMP published a weekly tip that discusses CSP transfers of ownership and ISSO assignments for a JAB P-ATO: Q: Is there an established process for what is supposed to occur when ownership of an authorized service transfers from one Cloud Service Provider (CSP) to another? A: If there were NO changes to the...

FedRAMP Weekly Tips – June 15 2017

This week, FedRAMP published a weekly tip that addresses Incident Response Plans and Security Assessment Reports: Q: Does FedRAMP provide a template for an Incident Response Plan? A: Security Control IR-8 requires CSPs to develop an Incident Response Plan (IRP). The IRP is a required document within security authorization packages. FedRAMP does not provide a...