As Government agencies are increasingly storing and processing sensitive data in the cloud, they have a strong responsibility to protect this sensitive data, which can include personal information, financial data, and intellectual property. Additionally, public-facing applications or “cloud” was recently listed as the number one attack vector for malicious actors. These applications often provide services to the public, so interruptions don’t just put data at risk, they can severely disrupt society. As a result, it is critical for government agencies to ensure the security of their cloud data and systems.
One of the best ways to do this is to require cloud vendors to engage with StateRAMP and obtain a StateRAMP security status. This is because the controls outlined in the NIST SP 800-53 Revision 4 address all major known security risks for information systems and cloud systems. With StateRAMP, governments can be confident that their third-party cloud service providers meet and maintain the government’s published cybersecurity policies. As well as ensuring that data is being stored and processed in a secure environment, StateRAMP provides a standardized approach to assessing and verifying the security of cloud vendors. Our team can help you get started with implementing StateRAMP by incorporating standard language into your procurements and contracts.
There are many benefits to StateRAMP authorization, including:
Improved security
StateRAMP helps organizations identify and mitigate security risks by building upon the foundational principles of confidentiality, integrity, and availability, also known as the CIA triad, a model designed to guide policies for information security within an organization. This helps to protect sensitive data and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
The Importance of StateRAMP Authorization for Government Agencies
StateRAMP can help organizations reduce the time and resources they spend on compliance with federal and state privacy and security laws.
Increased Efficiency
StateRAMP can help organizations streamline their security operations and improve their overall security posture.
Enhanced Visibility
StateRAMP provides organizations with a comprehensive view of the security posture of their vendors. By leveraging StateRAMP’s authorization process, organizations are better able to make informed decisions on managing risk and improving their security overall.
Build Trust With the Public
StateRAMP demonstrates to the public that the organization is committed to protecting sensitive data. This can help to build trust and confidence in the organization.
Improved Procurement Process
StateRAMP can help organizations to streamline their procurement processes. Agencies avoid the need to conduct their own security assessments, saving them time and money, while ensuring that assessments are conducted consistently and accurately, affording more objectivity to the procurement process.
StateRAMP authorization is a valuable tool for government agencies that are looking to secure their cloud data and systems. By requiring cloud vendors to be StateRAMP authorized, agencies can be confident that their data is being stored and processed in a secure environment. This can help to protect the privacy of citizens, the integrity of government operations, and the financial security of the government. If you are interested in learning more about StateRAMP, please reach out to get@stateramp.org.