Could updated controls from NIST drive up cloud security costs?

Among the biggest complaints about the cloud security program known as the Federal Risk Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) have been the cost for vendors and the time it takes to get approved.

The FedRAMP program management office has tried to address both over the last few years, most recently introducing the Tailored program for low-impact, software-as-a-service offerings last month.

But now the program management office is concerned that many of those advances could be at risk with the updated security controls from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

In its public comments about NIST Special Publication 800-53, Revision 5, FedRAMP said the move from Revision 4 to Revision 5 could cost millions of dollars across the cloud service providers, third-party certifiers and the federal Joint Authorization Board (JAB) to update the approved cloud services and related standards.

Doug Barbin, a principal and cybersecurity leader for Shellman and Company, a 3PAO, said in an interview with Federal News Radio that while privacy was always a part of Rev 4 and previous revisions, Rev 5 brings in more of the generally accepted privacy requirements, policies and guidelines for information sharing.

Read more: federalnewsradio.com

About the Author

As Chief Growth Officer and firmwide Managing Principal, Doug Barbin is responsible for the strategy, development, growth, and delivery of Schellman’s global services portfolio. Since joining in 2009, his primary focus has been to expand the strong foundation in IT audit and assurance to make Schellman a market leading diversified cybersecurity and compliance services provider. He has developed many of Schellman's service offerings, served global clients, and now focuses on leading and supporting the service delivery professionals, practice leaders, and the business development teams. Doug brings more than 25 years’ experience in technology focused services having served as technology product management executive, mortgage firm CTO/COO, and fraud and computer forensic investigations leader. Doug holds dual-bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Administration of Justice from Penn State as well as an MBA from Pepperdine. He has also taken post graduate courses on Artificial Intelligence from MIT and maintains multiple CPA licenses and in addition to most of the major industry certifications including several he helped create.

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