The irrefutable connection between agency modernization and FedRAMP cloud adoption

Facing pressing modernization mandates, it’s time for federal agencies to overcome a long-standing belief in the false choice of speed vs. security when implementing new technology.

The next era of federal innovation demands solutions that are fast, scalable and trusted from the start. Modern technology makes that reality: cloud platforms have matured, Zero Trust is being implemented, and AI-driven automation is accelerating mission outcomes to be delivered in weeks, not years.

More agencies are starting to explore their options for secure solutions that can be readily adopted. For example, the Veterans Administration recently issued an industry request for information to evaluate the potential benefits of expanding its existing enterprise cloud to include additional cloud service providers that are FedRAMP certified.

The VA is actively assessing whether additional CSPs can deliver the flexibility, innovation and scale needed for operational agility without compromising security. The answer will undoubtedly be a strong ‘yes’.

One leading reason is that cloud security levels now surpass that of huge on-premises environments. Widely visible and heavily scrutinized, cloud security exceeds what is often the on-premises reality of inconsistent patching, software security gaps, outdated and sprawling legacy hardware, misconfigurations and other vulnerabilities that increase risk.

Agency data will simply be more secure in highly scrutinized FedRAMP-authorized cloud environments that undergo rigorous audits, continuous monitoring and independent validation of their efficacy.

However, enabling that more secure environment requires a shift in the vendor ecosystem. While there is no shortage of commercial technologies that agency teams would like to adopt, many software-as-a-service vendors eschew the burdensome FedRAMP process, unprepared or unwilling to invest the time, cost and operational effort to become authorized. That leaves agencies with a very limited number of already authorized SaaS technologies – only about 480 have been FedRAMP-authorized over a 10-year period – or an unfortunate choice between compliance and innovation from less secure applications.

That forced choice is just not acceptable given the increasing sophistication and reach of cyber attacks. For example, the F5 Networks breach disclosed last October targeted a foundational piece of network infrastructure that translated into a potentially catastrophic attack surface across agencies still relying on legacy or individually secured systems and platforms. It presented a significant wake-up call to the entire ecosystem.

Decision makers across the government are finally acknowledging that the government’s approach to cybersecurity needs to dramatically change. There is demand visible through FedRAMP 20x, the updated FedRAMP assessment and authorization path, and with changes to the Defense Department’s Risk Management Framework, that is forcing a paradigm shift. Agencies know they must move away from the traditionally lengthy, tedious and painful FedRAMP process to a model that gets to security and innovation much faster.

In that process, they also need to understand what risk they are taking by putting their data in the cloud, and have confidence that they can quickly take protective action should they need to. To do this while responsibly approaching modernization requires continuously understanding a SaaS app’s security posture. There is also a need to rethink the traditional Authority to Operate approach that offers only a point-in-time view of a SaaS platform’s security. Future agency modernization will depend on cloud and data architectures that are designed for continual verification, not periodic reviews.

Using already-authorized cloud environments that enforce such monitoring at scale will accelerate time-to-value, streamline security work and ensure greater agency-wide consistency.

At the same time, agencies must remain cognizant that the value of cloud adoption is in mission velocity and cost avoidance – not cost savings – from reducing the overhead of legacy systems maintenance, minimizing downtime and preventing costly security incidents.

Even with government changes, successful federal modernization through secure cloud adoption is a two-way street. SaaS providers must embrace the responsibility of building stringent security into their platforms from day one. They should expect to operate in environments where continuous monitoring, automated compliance reporting, and real-time vulnerability transparency are the norm.

With programs like FedRAMP 20x easing approval timelines, and with major agencies like the VA signaling interest in multicloud vendor strategies, the demand signal is there. Vendors now need to answer the call.

The next generation of federal innovation will be defined by partnerships that make secure, FedRAMP-ready cloud and SaaS accessible in weeks, not years. Those who step up now, embracing security as a core principle and building for FedRAMP from day one, will lead the future of government modernization.