Source URL: https://cloudsecurityalliance.org/articles/fedramp-loves-compliance-as-code-insights-from-the-omb-s-recent-memo
Source: CSA
Title: FedRAMP & Compliance as Code: Insights from the OMB
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AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The recent memorandum from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) aims to modernize the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), enhancing cloud security across the Federal government. Key highlights include the introduction of compliance automation, machine-readable Risk Management Framework (RMF) documents, and a focus on threat and high-risk controls, positioning FedRAMP for a more efficient compliance landscape in the cloud era.
Detailed Description: The memorandum released by the OMB signifies a pivotal step in advancing the FedRAMP program, which is essential for ensuring cloud security in government operations.
– The OMB has updated the vision, scope, and governance of FedRAMP, responding to the evolving landscape of federal cybersecurity and the commercial cloud marketplace.
– Key points from the memorandum include:
– **Introduction of other certifications**: Opening the door to additional certifications at the Low FIPS classification level.
– **Doubling down on presumption of adequacy**: Reinforcing trust in existing security measures.
– **Shift towards commercial solutions**: Moving away from separate GovCloud environments allows more government access to commercial cloud service providers (CSPs).
– **Focus on high-risk controls**: Prioritizing threat assessments and high-risk controls over general compliance, thereby enhancing security.
– **Emphasis on automation**: Automating RMF documents in machine-readable formats, leading to “compliance as code” practices.
– The push towards machine-readable formats (e.g., XML, YAML, JSON) is particularly significant as it creates the foundation for automating assessments, which is crucial in a fast-paced, cloud-native environment.
– The anticipated benefits of these changes include:
– Greater efficiencies and a reduced risk posture for government operations.
– The potential for Authority to Operate (ATO) processes that are easier, self-updating, and real-time.
– Overall, a path forward that minimizes manual compliance efforts and reinforces regulatory frameworks while accommodating the rapid evolution of technology.
This initiative reflects a broader trend towards integrating automation and advanced frameworks within compliance processes, particularly as they pertain to cloud computing and security. The development of OSCAL underlines a commitment to modernizing federal compliance protocols and enhancing the agility with which government agencies interact with cloud technologies.