Secure Your Cloud with Aquia: FedRAMP Consultants You Can Trust

Wondering if FedRAMP authorization to operate (ATO) aligns with your goals? At Aquia, our seasoned team specializes in decoding the complexities of FedRAMP, guiding you through pivotal decisions. We're here to offer clarity on suitability, including deciding between agency ATO, FedRAMP Ready, or General Services Administration (GSA)/Joint Authorization Board (JAB) provisional authorization. Let's explore together. Discover how FedRAMP's impact on security categorization and integration with other compliance frameworks shapes your operations and efforts. Contact us for a streamlined approach to compliance success.

Why FedRAMP Consultancy Matters

Highest Security Standards: Attain federal government recognition for adhering to top-tier security and compliance standards, essential for federal agencies handling critical data. This certification often signifies credibility across industries.
Stand Out from Competition: Achieving FedRAMP authorized status stands as a testament to an organization's commitment to security excellence, a mark of exclusivity among certified cloud service providers (CSPs).
Simplified Compliance: Beyond federal agencies, state and local governments, as well as educational institutions, look to FedRAMP as a benchmark, facilitating easier compliance for authorized CSPs.
Continuous Vigilance: FedRAMP authorization isn't a one-time process; it mandates continuous monitoring and compliance, ensuring sustained adherence to stringent security requirements.
Product Enhancement Opportunities: The journey towards FedRAMP authorization often prompts organizations to reevaluate and enhance their product's security, leading to robust and refined solutions.
Collaborative Commitment: Achieving and maintaining FedRAMP authorization necessitates comprehensive collaboration, showcasing an organization's dedication to top-tier security standards.

How We Support Your FedRAMP Journey

At Aquia, we prioritize your unique journey, offering tailored, adaptable FedRAMP authorization solutions.

Unlike generic approaches, we focus on aligning with your operational and financial goals, meeting you where you are, ensuring informed decisions without compromising customization.

Aquia Zero to FedRAMP

Aquia Zero to FedRAMP ensures FedRAMP authorization is customized to your operational needs, steering clear of one-size-fits-all solutions. This minimizes the need for post-authorization adjustments and potential disruptions, ensuring a smooth, aligned process.

Expert Guidance and Insider Perspective

Backed by a former FedRAMP JAB technical representative, our team comprehends the intricacies and pivotal success factors in achieving authorization and ATO. This insider perspective allows us to navigate complexities, proactively addressing potential roadblocks.

Collaborative Support and Trusted Partnerships

We team up with trusted FedRAMP third-party assessment organizations (3PAOs), to ensure you're prepared and confident during FedRAMP security assessments. Leveraging our cloud security engineers' expertise from top tech firms, we provide seamless technical guidance and hands-on support.

Reliable Continuous Monitoring and Access to GRC Platform

Entrust us with the critical task of continuous monitoring for NIST 800-53 controls, allowing you to focus on priorities. Additionally, gain complimentary access to Aquia's robust governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) platform for artifact storage and streamlined reporting.

Enhanced Solutions and Ownership of Data

We elevate the Landing Zone for regulated environments, swiftly deploying secure FedRAMP-ready cloud environments. Moreover, by establishing FedRAMP controls within your cloud environment, we ensure you maintain ownership and control of your data as a cloud service provider, mitigating risks without relying on third-party hosting.

Navigating the FedRAMP Authorization Process: From Application to Continuous Monitoring

Step 1: Preparation

Initiate your FedRAMP process by preparing essential documentation, including the System Security Plan (SSP), Security Assessment Report (SAR), FedRAMP Readiness Assessment Report (RAR), and Configuration Management Plan.

Step 2: Readiness Assessment

Conduct a comprehensive readiness assessment, aligning your cloud service offering with FedRAMP PMO guidelines. This stage evaluates the compliance level, ensuring preparedness for upcoming assessments.

Step 3: Pre-Authorization Steps

Engage in pre-authorization activities, such as partnering with agencies for CSP documentation review, ensuring your SAR is comprehensive, and optionally, preparing a RAR.

Step 4: Kickoff

Commence the formal assessment process, establishing a structured kickoff to the full security assessment phase in collaboration with Aquia's seasoned consultants.

Step 5: Full Security Assessment

Undergo a rigorous, independent full security assessment, validating critical controls and compliance adherence through a systematic evaluation.

Step 6: Authorization Process

With Aquia's support, navigate the authorization process efficiently, ensuring alignment with FedRAMP requirements and addressing any emerging needs.

Step 7: Continuous Monitoring

Upon authorization, engage in continuous monitoring, maintaining compliance with ongoing FedRAMP assessments and updates, and ensuring the system's security posture remains robust.

Safeguarding Compliance: Our FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring Expertise

Continuous monitoring (ConMon) forms a critical aspect of maintaining FedRAMP compliance, ensuring your organization's security posture remains robust and effective over time.

At Aquia, our ConMon services help detect and address changes in your security posture, facilitating informed risk-based decisions to uphold compliance.

Key Process Areas Covered:

Reviewing Security Policies: Regular checks ensure up-to-date and relevant security policies, procedures, and plans.

Incident Handling Oversight: Monitoring incident handling activities, including record maintenance, reporting, and timely response.
Vulnerability Scans: Consistent scanning of infrastructure, operating systems, web applications, and databases to detect potential threats or vulnerabilities.

Why Choose Aquia FedRAMP Advisory

Time-saving Solutions: Our streamlined approach accelerates your FedRAMP journey, significantly reducing time-to-market and ensuring a swift and efficient authorization process.
Cost-effective Services: Aquia offers competitive pricing structures with transparent charges compared to other providers. We aim to deliver high value without hidden fees, ensuring a cost-effective journey to FedRAMP compliance.
Proven Track Record: With a successful history of guiding clients through the complex authorization and ATO process, our expertise is backed by a track record of consistently delivering tangible results.
Expert Guidance: Rely on our team of GRC advisors and certified cloud security engineers, leveraging their extensive experience gained from top-tier tech companies. They provide hands-on support throughout your FedRAMP journey, ensuring expert guidance at every step.

Holistic Cybersecurity Solutions and Innovative Development Offerings At Aquia

Here are our other consulting services encompassing comprehensive areas of expertise and support

Software Security

Software Supply Chain Security: Ensuring end-to-end security within your software development lifecycle, mitigating risks associated with third-party components and dependencies.

SaaS Governance: Implementing governance frameworks tailored for Software as a Service (SaaS) models, securing cloud-based applications, and ensuring compliance.
Public and Hybrid Cloud Security: Specialized security solutions designed for both public and hybrid cloud environments, safeguarding against evolving threats.
DevSecOps: Integrating security practices seamlessly into the DevOps pipeline, ensuring a culture of security-first development.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

Compliance Automation: Automated frameworks for compliance adherence, streamlining, and optimizing compliance processes.
Continuous ATO (cATO) Development: Ongoing development and maintenance of authority to operate processes, ensuring continuous compliance.
Compliance-as-a-Service: Managed compliance solutions tailored to organizational needs, providing ongoing support and monitoring.
Threat Hunting and Penetration Testing: Proactive identification and mitigation of potential threats through rigorous testing and analysis.

Solution Development

Rapid Prototyping: Swift and agile prototyping methodologies to validate concepts and accelerate product development.
Guardrail and Control Automation: Implementing automated guardrails and controls to enforce security and compliance measures.
Cloud-Native Full-Stack Software Engineering: Comprehensive software engineering services tailored for cloud-native applications.

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What is FedRAMP?

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a U.S. government initiative that standardizes the validation process for cloud service providers (CSPs), ensuring security compliance.

Organizations meeting FedRAMP requirements attain an "authority to operate" (ATO) status, simplifying procurement for federal agencies.

The program was propelled by a December 2011 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policy mandating federal services' migration to the cloud, aiming for substantial cost reductions in government spending.

FedRAMP formalizes a certification process using established National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)/Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) information security frameworks like NIST 800-37 and 800-53, which the U.S. government has utilized since 2002.

FedRAMP introduces third-party validation, akin to the role of a registrar in ISO 27001 or a CPA in SOC 2, enhancing the security posture's objective evaluation.

NIST/FISMA's risk assessment yields three distinct risk levels (low, moderate, and high), mandating specific controls based on these levels.

Unlike other frameworks, this specificity in control implementation made FedRAMP imperative for ensuring aligned security measures across CSPs catering to federal agencies.

Get in Touch

Ready to elevate your cybersecurity, achieve compliance, or explore innovative solutions? Contact Aquia's expert team today to begin your transformative journey.

Plus, grab your free strategy guide for achieving the FedRAMP authorization. Get your copy here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the costs involved in achieving FedRAMP Authorization?

The costs for FedRAMP authorization can vary based on several factors, including the complexity of your system, required documentation, implementation of security controls, and third-party assessment. Aquia offers competitive pricing and transparent fee structures, ensuring cost efficiency without compromising quality.

What distinguishes Aquia as a standout in FedRAMP consultancy?

Aquia FedRAMP consultants stand out through their tailored approach, extensive experience, and dedicated team comprising certified cloud security engineers and compliance specialists. Our collaboration with trusted partners and 3PAOs ensures a comprehensive and insightful perspective throughout the FedRAMP journey.