How Cloud Solutions Support FAR CUI Compliance with FedRAMP

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) is a set of federally mandated regulations that companies must follow if they intend to hold any sensitive government data that might have any level of security tied to it. These days, cloud solutions are a major part of keeping data safe and protected because so many agencies rely on digital communications to get things done. It is undoubtedly the case that cloud solutions must be well understood by any organization that wants to remain in business with the U.S. government.

FedRAMP or the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program is critically important when it comes to CUI security because it clearly establishes the rules for what a company must do to protect this information. FedRAMP is useful for ensuring that cloud programs are within CUI compliance.

What Specifically is FedRAMP and Why Does it Matter?

There are certain things that you need to know about FedRAMP right off the bat. For example:

• Strictest Cybersecurity Standards in the World - The FedRAMP program is based on some of the strictest cybersecurity standards in the world. Those standards are the NIST SP 800-53 security standards, and they are a great baseline for any organization to aim for.

• Independent Assessments are Necessary - One of the biggest reasons FedRAMP is so respected is that organizations don’t just grade themselves. To earn the designation, they must pass rigorous independent assessments. That means outside experts, not connected to the company, validate that security practices are strong and taken seriously. This extra layer of accountability is what makes FedRAMP such a powerful trust signal.

• Different Levels of Security are Applicable - Depending on the sensitivity of the data that one is trying to protect, there are different levels of security that must be applied to it. These levels are low, moderate, and high. Every organization involved with FedRAMP must understand what level of security they need to apply to the work that they do.

The fact is that FedRAMP is an important barometer that indicates that an organization has gone above and beyond to protect the security of the data that it holds.

Key Cloud Security Requirements for FAR CUI Compliance

Critical security requirements for FAR CUI compliance have been established, and it is essential to understand what those requirements are. When you know what you are looking for, you can reach your FAR CUI compliance requirements more easily than you might have otherwise. Here are some of the things that matter for FAR CUI compliance:

• Data Storage and Encryption - Keep data stored in a secure manner means encrypting that data so that it cannot easily fall into the hands of any random person that might have malicious intent.

• Access Management - Not every employee needs to see every piece of company data. A smart security practice is to give people access only to the information required for their role and nothing more. By restricting database access to those with a legitimate need, you reduce the risk of accidental exposure or malicious misuse. This principle of least privilege is not only a best practice for protecting sensitive data but also a key step toward meeting FAR CUI compliance.

• Incident Reporting - Quickly and accurately reporting data breaches is essential for maintaining FAR CUI compliance. Doing so shows that your organization isn’t trying to cover anything up and is committed to transparency. It demonstrates a genuine effort to resolve issues, protect sensitive data, and maintain trust.

Note that these are not the only cloud security requirements necessary for FAR CUI compliance, but they are among the most important. Keep each of these concepts in mind when thinking about how you will go about obtaining FAR CUI compliance.

Common Challenges with FAR CUI Compliance

Certain challenges emerge time and time again as various companies and agencies work on getting their FAR CUI compliance. Among the common challenges include the following:

• Issues with Migration - Moving existing software products into new systems to meet FAR CUI compliance standards can be more of an uphill battle than you might have anticipated. Sometimes the systems don’t exactly interact with one another how you might have hoped. Additionally, there might be issues with the data transfer process. Whatever the case may be, you should fully prepare for the fact that there could be some migration issues that you encounter as you work on FAR CUI compliance.

• High Costs - Expenses related to FAR CUI compliance are often higher than you might have anticipated. You need to budget accurately for the additional costs that are associated with reaching these standards. You don’t want to find yourself surprised by increases in the amount that you budgeted to spend.

• Compliance Across Multiple Cloud Platforms - Maintaining FAR CUI compliance across multiple cloud platforms is never easy, but it is something that those seeking FAR CUI compliance must keep in mind

Despite these challenges, it is still worthwhile for many entities to seek FAR CUI compliance to obtain government contracts. Given the lucrative nature of many of those contracts, it is hardly any surprise that so many are so interested in obtaining this level of compliance.

Protecting Sensitive Data to Keep Things Safe

Ultimately, the role of companies that protect sensitive data are to ensure that the data never falls into the wrong hands, especially with those that have malicious intent. Fortunately, the FAR CUI standards are extremely useful for preventing that from happening in the vast majority of cases. It is something that must be upheld and that should be honored. If you would like more information on how to reach FAR CUI compliance for yourself, reach out and contact us today for more details.