FIPS FedRAMP

FIPS (Federal Information Processing Standards) and FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) are two distinct but related sets of standards and regulations established by the U.S. government to ensure information security and compliance within federal agencies. While FIPS primarily focuses on cryptographic standards and security requirements or systems, FedRAMP specifically addresses the security of cloud services used by federal agencies. Both FIPS and FedRAMP play crucial roles in the security of federal information systems and in ensuring compliance within the U.S. government. Any company, contractor, or vendor that does business with a federal government agency has to follow FIPS and FedRAMP policies.

As internet and cloud computing applications evolve into collections of decentralized microservices, monitoring and managing network communications and security among those myriad services becomes challenging, especially when it comes to government agencies dealing with highly sensitive and classified information. FIPS provides specific guidance for federal agencies and contractors, while FedRAMP deals with cloud service providers specifically.

Tetrate delivers a modern solution to the challenges of application networking and security in multi-cloud environments, while also helping organizations comply with FIPS and FedRAMP regulations. Tetrate’s FIPS-verified Istio and Envoy builds are certified for use in FedRAMP environments and all Tetrate customers receive compliance certification along with access to our FIPS-verified builds to ensure satisfaction with FedRAMP’s requirements. Many of the world’s largest financial institutions, governments, and other enterprises rely on Tetrate for modern application networking and security.

FIPS vs FedRAMP

The Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) are cryptographic standards published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). For government workloads, FIPS compliance is mandatory for protecting sensitive data during transmission and storage. FIPS 140-2, in particular, specifies the security requirements for cryptographic modules, ensuring that encryption methods meet strict security standards.

FedRAMP mandates the use of FIPS-compliant cryptographic modules in cloud systems to protect data in transit and at rest. For Kubernetes applications, securing data in transit is paramount, especially in environments with microservices that rely heavily on inter-service communication.

FedRAMP Environment

A FedRAMP environment refers to a cloud infrastructure, platform, or application ecosystem that complies with the rigorous security requirements set forth by the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). Designed to standardize and enhance the security of cloud services used by U.S. federal agencies, a FedRAMP environment operates under strict controls for data protection, access management, and continuous monitoring. It ensures the use of FIPS-compliant cryptographic modules, adherence to NIST standards, and the implementation of robust incident response protocols. Such an environment typically leverages FedRAMP-authorized cloud platforms like AWS GovCloud, Microsoft Azure Government, or Google Cloud’s Assured Workloads, and supports multi-tenant or hybrid architectures while maintaining stringent data sovereignty and security requirements. By establishing a consistent security baseline, a FedRAMP environment enables government agencies and their contractors to safely adopt cloud technologies, foster innovation, and ensure compliance with federal regulations.

FedRAMP Encryption Requirements

FedRAMP encryption requirements mandate that cloud service providers (CSPs) use cryptographic methods that comply with the Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140-2 or higher for protecting sensitive data. These standards, established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), ensure that all cryptographic modules used for data encryption, decryption, key management, and authentication meet stringent security benchmarks. FedRAMP requires encryption for both data at rest and data in transit to safeguard it from unauthorized access, tampering, or interception. This includes using secure protocols like HTTPS, TLS 1.2 or higher, and secure algorithms such as AES-256. Additionally, encryption keys must be managed securely, with processes for rotation, access control, and auditing. By enforcing these encryption standards, FedRAMP provides a robust framework for ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and security of federal data hosted in cloud environments.

FedRAMP Observability

FedRAMP observability focuses on the continuous monitoring and auditing of cloud environments to ensure compliance with stringent security controls and the proactive detection of threats. Observability in a FedRAMP environment requires the implementation of tools and practices that provide visibility into system performance, user activity, and security events. This includes collecting and analyzing logs, metrics, and traces across all components of the cloud infrastructure. FedRAMP mandates the integration of logging and monitoring systems with security information and event management (SIEM) tools to enable real-time threat detection, incident response, and forensic analysis. Logs must be securely stored, regularly reviewed, and retained for auditing purposes, adhering to compliance standards such as NIST SP 800-53. Effective observability not only supports continuous monitoring, a core FedRAMP requirement, but also ensures operational resilience and accountability in safeguarding federal data.

Kubernetes FedRAMP

Kubernetes is not inherently FedRAMP-compliant. Its adoption in government and other regulated sectors requires a layered approach to compliance. Kubernetes itself is a container orchestration tool, meaning its security and compliance depend on the underlying infrastructure, configurations, and operational practices. Successfully using Kubernetes in FedRAMP environments demands careful planning and integration with compliant technologies and processes.

Challenges with Kubernetes in FedRAMP Environments

1. Shared Responsibility: Kubernetes environments typically span multiple layers, including the infrastructure (e.g., cloud platforms), the Kubernetes control plane, and the workloads running on top. Achieving FedRAMP compliance requires ensuring security across all these layers.
2. Complexity: Kubernetes’ dynamic and decentralized nature makes it challenging to enforce security controls. Misconfigurations, such as improperly defined access policies or insecure communication channels, can lead to vulnerabilities.
3. Continuous Monitoring: FedRAMP mandates ongoing monitoring and incident response capabilities, which can be difficult to implement in highly dynamic Kubernetes environments.
4. Integration with Legacy Systems: Many federal agencies have legacy systems that must integrate with Kubernetes deployments, creating additional hurdles for compliance and security.

Benefits of FIPS-Certified Istio and Envoy in FedRAMP Authorization

1. Secure Data in Transit: FIPS-certified cryptographic modules ensure that all inter-service communication is encrypted, protecting data from eavesdropping and tampering.
2. Authentication and Authorization: Istio integrates with identity providers to enforce strong authentication and role-based access control (RBAC), ensuring that only authorized services and users can access resources.
3. Zero Trust Architecture: FIPS-certified Istio and Envoy enable zero-trust principles by encrypting all traffic and verifying the identity of every service, making the architecture resilient to threats.
4. Monitoring and Auditability: Istio’s observability features, such as distributed tracing and logging, help meet FedRAMP’s continuous monitoring and incident response requirements. These logs can be integrated with FedRAMP-compliant monitoring tools.
5. Simplified Compliance: By using a FIPS-certified service mesh, organizations can more easily demonstrate compliance with FedRAMP’s security controls for encryption and communication.

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