Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) compliance costs typically range from $450,000 to over $2 million and take 12 to 18 months to achieve, time your competitors are using to capture government contracts. While you’re spending months configuring FIPS cryptography, hardening security baselines, and navigating 400+ security controls, your competitors are already shipping to federal agencies. Companies that want to sell cloud products and services to the US government must meet the rigorous requirements of FedRAMP, which mandates they implement the expansive security controls described in NIST Special Publication 800-53. As more companies go through this process, they’re looking for ways to accelerate the process (faster time-to-market) and reduce the cost of maintaining FedRAMP compliance. The need for faster and less expensive compliance solutions is driving innovation within the cloud security space, particularly around automated tooling and standardized images.
Shift from months of manual compliance work to automated, auditable security. In May, we announced Docker Hardened Images (DHI) – a curated catalog of minimalist images, kept continuously up to date by Docker to ensure near-zero known CVEs. Today, we are announcing support for FIPS 140-compliant and STIG hardened images – two FedRAMP hurdles that companies have found particularly challenging. Below, we will dive into these new features in more detail and give an overview of all the ways DHI addresses pain points associated with FedRAMP. The use of Docker Hardened Images represents a significant step forward in simplifying the path to FedRAMP compliance for organizations leveraging containerized applications.
FIPS Validated Cryptography Made Simple
FIPS 140 is a US government standard that defines security and testing requirements for cryptographic modules that protect sensitive information. FedRAMP requires that companies use cryptographic modules that have been validated by the NIST Cryptographic Module Validation Program (CMVP). Achieving FIPS validation often involves extensive configuration, testing, and documentation, adding significantly to the time and cost of compliance efforts.
Although swapping out a cryptographic library for a FIPS-validated one in a base image might seem simple, it can become increasingly difficult as some software must be specifically configured or built from source to use the FIPS-validated module, and even the selection of cryptographic algorithms may need to change. And it’s not just a one-time effort. As you update your software over time, you must be able to prove that your image is still compliant and you haven’t accidentally introduced non-validated cryptographic software. This ongoing maintenance significantly contributes to the complexity and expense of achieving FedRAMP compliance.
FIPS-compliant Docker Hardened Images (DHI) do all the hard work for you. They are pre-configured to use FIPS-validated software and tested during our secure build process to confirm correct function. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Every FIPS-compliant image comes with signed attestations that list the FIPS-validated software in use, complete with links to its CMVP certification and the test results proving it. We support all major open source cryptographic modules, including OpenSSL, Bouncy Castle, and Go. The ability to leverage pre-validated components dramatically reduces the risk of compliance issues.
STIG Hardening for Enhanced Security
Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) are a set of security requirements issued by the Department of Defense (DoD) to ensure that systems meet specific security standards. Achieving STIG compliance can be a complex and time-consuming process, often requiring significant manual configuration and ongoing maintenance. The sheer volume and complexity of STIGs is a major hurdle for organizations seeking FedRAMP authorization.
Our automated build process ensures that all DHI images are continuously monitored for new STIG updates. This proactive approach eliminates the need for manual patching and verification, significantly reducing the operational overhead associated with maintaining STIG compliance. By leveraging DHI’s hardened base images, organizations can focus on their core business objectives rather than spending valuable time and resources on security maintenance. Furthermore, the automated nature of DHI greatly simplifies the audit process.
Simplified Auditing and Verification
Maintaining FedRAMP compliance requires rigorous auditing and verification processes. DHI simplifies these processes by providing detailed attestations of the cryptographic modules and STIG configurations used in each image. These attestations are digitally signed and verifiable, providing auditors with the confidence that the images meet all relevant security requirements. The level of detail provided in the attestations allows for quicker and more efficient audits.
Furthermore, DHI’s automated build process ensures a consistent and auditable environment for deployments. This eliminates the risk of configuration drift and simplifies compliance reporting, further reducing the burden on organizations seeking FedRAMP authorization. The streamlined auditing capabilities offered by DHI are a key differentiator in accelerating the FedRAMP certification process.
In conclusion, Docker Hardened Images provide a powerful solution for organizations seeking to accelerate their FedRAMP compliance efforts. By leveraging pre-validated images and automated tooling, companies can significantly reduce the time, cost, and complexity associated with achieving this critical security certification. The benefits extend beyond simply meeting regulatory requirements – DHI enables faster innovation and accelerates time-to-market for cloud solutions targeted at the US government.
Source: Read the original article here.
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