State Risk and Authorization Management Program
Standardized cybersecurity verification for cloud services used by state and local government
// What is StateRAMP?
StateRAMP is a nonprofit organization that provides a standardized approach to cybersecurity verification for cloud service providers (CSPs) serving state and local government. Modeled after the federal FedRAMP program, StateRAMP bridges a critical gap by giving state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments a reliable way to evaluate the security of cloud solutions.
CSPs undergo third-party assessment against NIST SP 800-53 controls, with authorization levels corresponding to data sensitivity: Low, Low+, Moderate, and High. StateRAMP maintains an Authorized Product List that government entities can reference during procurement.
As state and local governments increasingly adopt cloud services, StateRAMP adoption is growing rapidly. Several states have formally adopted StateRAMP as part of their procurement requirements, and many more reference it in cybersecurity policies.
// Inside the Regulation
StateRAMP defines four security verification levels based on NIST SP 800-53 controls, allowing state and local governments to match vendor security to data sensitivity requirements.
StateRAMP Low
Baseline security verification for cloud systems processing non-sensitive government data.
Control Baseline
Subset of NIST SP 800-53 Low controls addressing fundamental security practices.
Use Cases
Public-facing websites, non-sensitive collaboration tools, open data platforms.
StateRAMP Low+
Enhanced baseline for systems processing data requiring additional protection beyond standard low-impact classification.
Additional Controls
Low baseline plus additional controls for enhanced access management, logging, and vulnerability management.
Use Cases
Internal agency tools, non-PII systems requiring moderate operational security.
StateRAMP Moderate
Full security verification for systems processing sensitive government data including PII.
Control Requirements
Full NIST SP 800-53 Moderate baseline with StateRAMP-specific parameters for state and local government context.
Use Cases
Systems processing PII, financial data, health information, law enforcement records.
Continuous Monitoring
Monthly vulnerability scanning, annual penetration testing, and ongoing Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management.
StateRAMP High
Most rigorous verification level for systems processing the most sensitive state and local government data.
Enhanced Controls
Full control set including advanced encryption, stringent access controls, and enhanced incident response.
Use Cases
Criminal justice systems, critical infrastructure, emergency services, highly sensitive PII.
Note: StateRAMP uses FedRAMP reciprocity. CSPs with an existing FedRAMP authorization can achieve StateRAMP verification through a streamlined process. StateRAMP publishes an Authorized Product List that government procurement teams reference during vendor evaluation.
// Who Must Comply
- 1 Cloud service providers selling to state government agencies
- 2 SaaS vendors serving local government and municipalities
- 3 Cloud providers serving K-12 school districts
- 4 Technology vendors in states that have adopted StateRAMP requirements
- 5 Government IT departments evaluating cloud procurement
- 6 Managed service providers hosting government workloads
// Key Requirements
Access Control
Role-based access, multi-factor authentication, and least privilege enforcement
Continuous Monitoring
Ongoing vulnerability management, configuration monitoring, and security event detection
Data Protection
Encryption at rest and in transit with key management procedures
Incident Response
Incident response plan, notification procedures, and breach reporting capabilities
Third-Party Assessment
Independent assessment by a StateRAMP-approved 3PAO against applicable control baseline
POA&M Management
Plan of Action and Milestones tracking for identified control gaps with defined remediation timelines
// Enforcement & Penalties
StateRAMP itself does not impose fines, but failure to achieve or maintain verification can disqualify cloud providers from state and local government contracts. In states that have formally adopted StateRAMP, non-compliance effectively blocks market access.
Disqualification from state and local government contracts
Examples:
- Removal from StateRAMP Authorized Product List
- Loss of eligibility for government contracts in adopting states
- Contract termination for lapsed verification status
- Reputational impact in government procurement evaluations
// Cyber Insurance Impact
StateRAMP verification demonstrates security maturity based on NIST standards, which can positively influence cyber insurance underwriting. Cloud providers with StateRAMP authorization may benefit from lower premiums due to validated security controls and continuous monitoring practices.
// How Breach Craft Helps
We help organizations achieve StateRAMP compliance through genuine security improvements, not checkbox exercises. Our services address the specific requirements and challenges of StateRAMP.
// Industries That Need StateRAMP
These industries commonly require StateRAMP compliance as part of their regulatory obligations.
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