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The federal government's embrace of cloud computing has made FedRAMP compliance crucial for cloud service providers (CSPs) wanting to engage with government agencies. As of October 2023, 318 cloud services providers have made their way into the FedRAMP Marketplace, and more are in the process. However, the journey to FedRAMP authorization is challenging, going beyond checklist completion and automated tools support. It involves getting past the documentation hurdles and resource demands to steer through the FedRAMP authorization process.

What is the critical path to managing cyber threats effectively in your business? Cybersecurity risk management provides the strategic framework that safeguards your digital assets from the growing burden of cyber attacks. In this article, we'll review the critical processes of threat identification, risk analysis, and tactical mitigation that are essential for the robust protection of your business.

Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) compliance represents a significant milestone for cloud providers. Achieving Authority to Operate (ATO) opens the door to the large Federal market, but often leads to the discovery of extensive technical debt resulting in lost revenue and extended timelines.

Increasing numbers of healthcare organizations are choosing SOC 2 to safeguard their data privacy and ramp up information security. This move does more than just create a robust trust foundation, it helps ensure that protected health information (PHI) is safeguarded, to support business and service continuity. Service Organization Control Type 2 (SOC 2), is a cybersecurity compliance framework that was developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). This security framework is based on five Trust Services Criteria (TSC): security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy.  

FedRAMP authorization stands as a critical goal for cloud service providers that want business with the U.S. federal government It was initiated in 2011 to make secure cloud services easier for federal agencies to adopt. This program brings a uniform methodology for security assessment, authorization, and ongoing monitoring of cloud services.

FedRAMP is overseen by the General Services Administration, and is now the only path for federal agencies to leverage cloud services, making it the critical path for every cloud service provider(CSP) and cloud service organization (CSO). For a provider to gain FedRAMP approval, they must demonstrate rigorous security policies, systems, and monitoring. This process demands a well-conceived and well-resourced approach as it spans from 10 to 18 months, and impacts policy, infrastructure, and security management.

In 2023 it is estimated than 50 Million patient records were compromised in more than 900 discrete cyber incidents. These breaches jeopardize patient data security and the reputation of the healthcare organizations involved. Adopting strong cybersecurity measures is the floor for business continuity in healthcare organizations. These steps are essential not only for safeguarding sensitive information but also for regulatory compliance. One of the key frameworks employed for this purpose is SOC2.

In the modern interconnected world, almost every company works with third-party vendors. However, this collaboration introduces real-world risks, especially when it comes to digital security. It's startling that 30% of cybersecurity incidents can be traced back to a third-party breach. This fact highlights the urgent necessity of sound Third-Party Risk Management (TPRM).

John Emard speaks with Jason Ford from Steel Patriot Partners at ViVE 2024 about important cybersecurity topics being discussed in the Cybersecurity Pavilion.

A single view of security, application, and third-party service provider events is crucial for healthcare organizations to reduce overall business risk. It provides visibility into the environment and helps identify potential threats and attacks. Implementing technologies like Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions can aid in achieving this objective. The SIEM's role expands further in the healthcare industry as it assists in meeting compliance requirements and streamlining security operations while providing a comprehensive view of security events. 

As cybersecurity challenges evolve and compliance requirements change, organizations must proactively manage the risks of protecting their sensitive information and digital assets. Risk management is a complex process that helps organizations identify compliance gaps, vulnerabilities, assess potential threats, and implement effective risk mitigation measures. The following are five best practices for risk management, specifically focusing on how it relates to cybersecurity, governance, and IT compliance.