A Guide to the FedRAMP 2024-2025 Roadmap for Federal Government Contractors

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, or FedRAMP, is a government-wide project that standardizes security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring of cloud products and services used by federal agencies. The program's major goal is to verify that cloud services used by the government conform to strict security standards, reducing possible risks and improving overall cybersecurity.

FedRAMP has announced its plan for 2024-2025, which outlines strategic goals and activities to improve the program's efficacy and efficiency. This roadmap is in response to stakeholder feedback that indicates the need for the program's expansion to better meet market demands. It also seeks to clearly define the Strategic Goals of the General Services Administration (GSA) and FedRAMP, ensuring that resources are aligned with these objectives. Furthermore, the roadmap demonstrates FedRAMP's commitment to modernization by giving detailed information on how and why these improvements will be executed.

FedRAMP's core aim is to enable the safe and easy use of cloud services by the US government, allowing agencies to use the potential of cloud computing to accomplish their mission objectives. The initiative enforces a consistent security standard across all cloud goods and services, emphasizing the "do once, use many times" principle. This not only enhances the government's security posture, but also enables agencies and cloud service providers (CSPs) to reuse work and avoid duplicative efforts. FedRAMP's recognition extends beyond the federal level, with its security frameworks recognized internationally, commercially, in higher education, and by state and municipal governments.

Several major stakeholders are included in the roadmap, including over 200 federal departments, more than 400 CSPs (including over 60 small firms), and more than 40 Third Party Assessment Organizations. The strategic goals for the next two years are divided into four major areas: orienting FedRAMP around the customer experience, positioning the program as a leader in cybersecurity and risk management, significantly scaling the size and scope of a trusted FedRAMP marketplace, and increasing program effectiveness through automation and technology-forward operations.

Addressing the customer experience is critical, as CSPs have found it difficult to navigate a lengthy and costly procedure to obtain FedRAMP authorization. The roadmap suggests options such as enabling agile software delivery, addressing key regulatory challenges, enhancing clarity on FedRAMP, and motivating CSPs to provide secure configuration profiles.

FedRAMP aspires to improve its reputation as a cybersecurity and risk management leader. This includes increasing technical capacity and experience in the program, establishing basic security standards for all authorizations, and investigating reciprocity between FedRAMP and external frameworks.

Scaling the trusted marketplace is another focus item. Despite its expansion, the FedRAMP marketplace has not kept up with agency demand for new and creative services. Efforts to overcome this include developing a low-review procedure with trusted authorizing partners, forming joint authorization groups, and centralizing and automating continuous monitoring.

Finally, boosting program efficacy through automation and technologically advanced processes is a critical goal. The roadmap contains intentions to disclose new critical performance metrics, create a new FedRAMP technology platform, and enable machine-readable digital authorization packages. These methods attempt to make FedRAMP operations less laborious and time-consuming, as well as to ensure that performance measurements are more comprehensive in meeting customer expectations.

These programs help a variety of parties. CSPs will be able to implement important changes without waiting for federal permission, have access to a growing public knowledge base, confidently develop and submit digital authorization packages, and see their experiences reflected in program metrics. Authorization teams, which include agencies and the FedRAMP Project Management Office (PMO), will benefit from a platform that simplifies the authorization and review process, reduces PMO review for pilot partners, and engages more technical PMO staff. Agencies, on the other hand, will have access to a centralized repository of all authorization packages, as well as tools for reviewing digital authorization packages.

The high-level plan outlines a schedule for implementing these activities, which ranges from the third quarter of fiscal year 2024 to the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025. It includes plans to pilot new processes, provide advice, expand the knowledge base, establish security expectations, collaborate with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) on specialized reviews, and transition to a low-review authorization process, among other initiatives.

In response to the FedRAMP Roadmap, federal government contractors, particularly cloud service providers (CSPs), should consider taking the following action steps:

1. Review and Understand the Roadmap: Thoroughly review the FedRAMP Roadmap to understand the strategic goals and initiatives laid out for 2024-2025. Pay particular attention to areas that directly impact CSPs, such as changes in the authorization process, cybersecurity expectations, and continuous monitoring requirements.

• Need help understanding the implications of the FedRAMP Roadmap for your business? We can assist in developing a strategic plan to align your operations with the roadmap's goals and initiatives. Contact us today!

2. Align with Agile Software Delivery: Prepare to adapt to the pilot agile significant change process, which aims to enable faster deployment of changes without blocking on advance approval. Ensure your development and deployment practices are agile and can accommodate rapid updates.

3. Enhance Technical Expertise: Invest in enhancing your technical capacity and expertise to meet the heightened cybersecurity and risk management expectations outlined in the roadmap. This may involve training staff, hiring new talent, or consulting with experts in FedRAMP requirements.

4. Contribute to the Knowledge Base: Actively engage with the FedRAMP community by contributing to the living knowledge base of guidance, training, and real-world examples. Sharing your experiences and best practices can help other CSPs navigate the FedRAMP process more effectively.

• We can help facilitate your contribution to the FedRAMP knowledge base by helping your business document and share experiences, best practices, and lessons learned. Contact us today.

5. Prepare for Automation: Start preparing for the shift towards automation and technology-forward operations. This includes ensuring your systems are compatible with machine-readable digital authorization packages and exploring ways to integrate with the new FedRAMP technology platform.

6. Participate in Pilots and Partnerships: Express interest in participating in pilots and partnerships related to the roadmap initiatives. Engaging in these opportunities can provide valuable insights and influence the development of future FedRAMP policies and processes.

• Fed Contract Pros can help you identify opportunities to participate in pilots and partnerships related to the roadmap initiatives. We can help you navigate the application process and prepare for participation. Contact us today.

7. Monitor Updates and Engage in Public Forums: Stay informed about updates to the roadmap and actively participate in public forums and comment periods. This will allow you to provide feedback and stay abreast of any changes that may affect your business.

• Subscribe to our Newsletter and follow our Blog for the latest developments.

8. Develop Secure Configuration Profiles: In collaboration with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), work on providing secure configuration profiles and guidance for the use of your services. This can help streamline the authorization process and enhance the security of your offerings.

FedRAMP's roadmap for 2024-2025 reflects a commitment to evolving with the changing landscape of cloud computing and cybersecurity. By focusing on customer experience, cybersecurity leadership, scaling the trusted marketplace, and program effectiveness, FedRAMP aims to ensure that government agencies can continue to leverage cloud services securely and efficiently. As the program moves forward with these initiatives, it invites stakeholders to participate in partnerships, pilots, and public forums to help shape the future of FedRAMP.

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FedFeather Frank says:

“The FedRAMP Roadmap is important for federal government contractors as it outlines the program's strategic goals and initiatives for enhancing security standards and streamlining the authorization process, which in turn helps contractors navigate compliance more efficiently and access a broader market for their cloud services. Moreover, by aligning with the roadmap's objectives, contractors can better position themselves as trusted partners in the federal marketplace, meeting the evolving cybersecurity needs of government agencies.”