Palo Alto Networks reaches a significant milestone as our commitment to comprehensive security achieves the largest number of StateRAMP marketplace approved cybersecurity offerings.
In its commitment to be the state and local government's cybersecurity partner of choice, Palo Alto Networks provides unparalleled support for organizations with dedicated investment in providing tools for a safer and more secure digital world.
Understanding State & Local Security Needs
Cyberthreats to public sector infrastructure are proliferating at a concerning rate. State and local government agencies, schools, transportation systems and hospitals are subject to a constant barrage of attacks through ransomware and other techniques of bad actors. As many in the public sector are taking advantage of cloud technologies, and as cyberattacks increase across local and state governments, it’s critical to ensure those cloud technologies meet certain security standards, particularly as states continue to look for better accountability in their cybersecurity.
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization and continuous monitoring of digital assets for federal government users. StateRAMP (State Risk and Authorization Management Program) now joins that program in authorizing cloud technologies to protect participating state, local and education agencies.
What Is StateRAMP?
StateRAMP is a non-profit organization, developing standards and setting a baseline for security controls in the cloud. Established in 2020, StateRAMP verifies that approved software and cloud offerings used by state and local governments comply with the baseline parameters informed by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). When a cloud technology becomes a StateRAMP authorized solution, it is acknowledged as complying with NIST guidelines, which address all major known security risks for information and cloud systems.
Once a product is certified by the StateRAMP project management office, the cloud service provider must conduct continuous monitoring. Providers are required to upload continuous monitoring scan results, inventory documentation and Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM) documents. This continuous monitoring requirement is a critical provision of StateRAMP, and one that Palo Alto Networks fully supports and stands ready to provide.
The Importance of StateRAMP
Eric Trexler, Senior Vice President of Public Sector, said:
“Palo Alto Networks helps state and local government and education entities better understand, streamline, and improve their security posture and outcomes. Supporting StateRAMP certification is one way to do that, providing much-needed peace of mind for local, state and education governmental organizations.”
With StateRAMP, government entities no longer need to spend time or money conducting their own security audits. When engaging with a vendor, they can be confident that the vendor has been assessed and cleared as a viable and trusted security partner.
Committing to State & Local Governments Customers’ Security
Palo Alto Networks is deeply committed to bolstering the cybersecurity resilience of state and local government entities. As part of our comprehensive support of our customers’ "whole-of-state" strategy, we advocate for a platform approach within the cybersecurity ecosystem. Platformization involves integrating diverse cybersecurity solutions into a unified platform, offering enhanced visibility, automation, and control over security processes.
Aligned with the principles of "whole-of-state," Palo Alto Networks aims to provide government agencies and educational institutions with the tools and support they need to address cybersecurity challenges comprehensively. By embracing platformization, we enable state and local governments to consolidate their security efforts, streamline operations, and maximize the effectiveness of their cybersecurity initiatives, thereby improving their security posture.
Our StateRAMP-authorized Government Cloud Suite of products and services exemplifies our dedication to supporting this strategy. By offering a unified platform equipped with state-of-the-art security solutions, we empower government entities to proactively mitigate cyber threats, safeguard critical assets, and uphold the trust of their constituents.
As the #1 trusted partner in cybersecurity, Palo Alto Networks remains committed to advancing the principles of platformization and supporting state and local governments in their pursuit of robust security measures. Together, we navigate the complexities of cybersecurity with a unified vision, ensuring the safety and resilience of our digital infrastructure for generations to come.
Get more information on StateRamp.
Learn more on Palo Alto Networks and our commitment to the Public Sector.