FedRAMP’s Automation Initiative Holds Significant Potential

A pending initiative aimed at transforming the manner in which cloud service providers engage with the federal government proposes a more expedient approach to navigating regulatory hurdles. However, it leaves stakeholders unclear on how it will effectively address persistent challenges such as costly delays and ambiguous directives that characterize the nation’s largest public procurement process.

Launched under President Barack Obama in 2011, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) was designed to help federal agencies assess, authorize, and monitor cloud services in a more standardized manner. Despite its success in promoting cloud security policies and facilitating quicker adoption across governmental bodies, FedRAMP has been marked by slow and costly procedures, as well as agency sponsorship bottlenecks and convoluted requirements.

The new initiative, known as FedRAMP 20x, spearheaded by the General Services Administration (GSA), seeks to collaborate with private sector entities to create a cloud-native, continuous security assessment model. This model is intended to leverage automated monitoring outcomes and apply best practices to fulfill federal requirements. According to its website, the program aims to automate over 80% of FedRAMP controls, claiming that the implementation will not require the drafting of additional procedural documentation.

In a blog post released in late March, titled “A New Roadmap for FedRAMP,” GSA outlined four principal objectives: clarifying security expectations, streamlining the process for cloud service providers, developing a trusted marketplace, and establishing a data-first and API-first infrastructure. The post emphasized a commitment to centralizing post-authorization monitoring while automating as much as possible.

Experts and practitioners in federal cloud security have expressed cautious optimism regarding the automation of security assessments and the acceleration of approval processes, though some caution that the lack of detailed execution plans may lead to new uncertainties and disruptions for companies currently in the authorization pipeline. The GSA’s program representatives have indicated their intention to form community working groups that will facilitate direct engagement between industry stakeholders and FedRAMP specialists.

John Allison, a senior director at a federal cybersecurity solutions provider, noted the dual nature of pending changes, stating that while they could provide new opportunities for companies, many leaders remain apprehensive until more clarification is available. He added that while automation has the potential to cut costs and reduce timelines, existing processes may be disrupted for companies in transition.

Jacob Horne, Chief Cybersecurity Evangelist for a managed security service provider focused on the Department of Defense, cautioned that unambiguous critical controls must not be neglected in the rush to automate. He expressed concern over the vague promises associated with automation and called for clarity on how these modifications lead to more robust security assurances.

The GSA and FedRAMP program officials did not immediately provide comments on the concerns raised. However, FedRAMP Director Pete Waterman announced in late March the intention to eliminate the authorization backlog by the end of April.

According to Shrav Mehta, CEO of Secureframe, recent trends indicate that FedRAMP may well achieve its goal of addressing the backlog promptly, given a noticeable increase in approval rates from a mere few each month to 8 to 10 approvals weekly. Mehta emphasized that automation can alleviate tedious documentation tasks, allowing security teams to prioritize strategic risk management and response initiatives.