Planning is Essential
The cost for undergoing GovRAMP is similar to that of FedRAMP – it’s a substantial investment. If a cloud service provider accelerates the push to get authorized without the right preliminary understanding, it could prove to be very costly. We always recommend a Gap Assessment prior to undergoing any authorization to identify the major items that could hinder your success.
All 3PAOs Are Not the Same
The FedRAMP marketplace annotates how many assessments a 3PAO has successfully performed. This translates to the GovRAMP 3PAO marketplace as the assessment rigor is similar. Ensure you are working with a GovRAMP 3PAO that has the proven experience conducting complex cloud security assessments. Check the organization, talk with the actual assessment team, understand their methodology, and make sure you know what services are truly being offered.
Establish a ConMon Strategy Early
The key to maintaining a GovRAMP authorization is to have a robust continuous monitoring process. This strategy includes maintaining the proper staffing levels, ensuring vulnerability scanning is being performed comprehensively, and remediating findings within the respective time constraints. Working with a GovRAMP partner earlier in the process can yield better results in terms of meeting the requirements upfront and in the long run.
Ensure Key Control Areas Are Implemented
While there is an extensive set of security requirements to achieve a GovRAMP authorization, there are key control areas (people, process, and technology) that should be closely analyzed starting with the boundary validation and data flow extending into key system control areas that are identified in the GovRAMP Readiness Assessment. Make sure that a gap assessment is done to walk through these implementations in detail so your 3PAO clearly understands how your system/organization complies with the requirements.
