Businesses typically hire for several key positions to manage Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) compliance and operations. These positions vary based on the size of the company and the scope of services provided, but common roles include:
1. FedRAMP Program Manager
Alternative Titles: FedRAMP Compliance Manager, Cloud Compliance Program Manager
- Responsibilities: Overseeing the entire FedRAMP compliance program, managing timelines, coordinating between teams, ensuring documentation and processes meet FedRAMP requirements.
- Hiring Tips: Look for candidates with experience managing large-scale projects, especially within a compliance or government contracting environment.
- Good Fit:
> Strong leadership and organizational skills.
> Experience in leading cross-functional teams.
> Familiarity with regulatory frameworks like FedRAMP, HIPAA, or SOC2.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Struggles with multitasking or handling pressure from multiple stakeholders.
> Lacks understanding of compliance-heavy environments.
> Poor communication and project management skills.
2. Security Compliance Analyst
Alternative Titles: Information Security Analyst, Compliance Specialist, IT Compliance Analyst
- Responsibilities: Conducting risk assessments, maintaining security documentation, monitoring compliance with FedRAMP controls.
- Hiring Tips: Look for candidates with a background in cybersecurity, risk management, and specific experience with compliance frameworks like NIST SP 800-53.
- Good Fit:
> Strong analytical mindset and attention to detail.
> Familiar with regulatory compliance and cybersecurity principles.
> Experience with cloud security and FedRAMP controls.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Lacks depth in risk management or regulatory frameworks.
> Easily overwhelmed by detailed, documentation-heavy tasks.
> Lacks critical thinking in assessing security risks.
Need help with achieving FedRAMP Authorization? Get in touch with our cybersecurity experts today.
3. Cloud Security Engineer
Alternative Titles: FedRAMP Security Engineer, Cloud Infrastructure Security Engineer
- Responsibilities: Implementing security controls for FedRAMP compliance, managing cloud security configurations, conducting vulnerability assessments.
- Hiring Tips: Look for candidates with hands-on experience in cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) and specific knowledge of security configurations for those platforms.
- Good Fit:
> Strong technical skills in cloud security tools and platforms.
> Experience working in a FedRAMP or similarly regulated environment.
> Capable of solving complex security challenges.
> Familiar with cloud services and tooling.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Limited cloud experience or overly focused on on-premise security solutions.
> Struggles with quickly adapting to changing security requirements.
> Lacks understanding of security architecture for cloud environments.
4. Compliance Specialist
Alternative Titles: Regulatory Compliance Analyst, FedRAMP Compliance Coordinator
- Responsibilities: Preparing for audits, maintaining compliance documentation, supporting the Program Manager in meeting FedRAMP requirements.
- Hiring Tips: Candidates with experience in regulated industries (government, healthcare) and strong writing skills are ideal for this role.
- Good Fit:
> Meticulous attention to detail.
> Excellent communication and documentation skills.
> Familiarity with compliance audits and regulatory standards.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Uncomfortable with meticulous, detail-oriented work.
> Poor communication and technical writing skills.
> Lacks patience for the lengthy, sometimes repetitive tasks required in compliance.
Learn more: I’m a Cybersecurity Technical Writer–Here are My Best Tips on Documentation Development
5. Risk Management Framework (RMF) Specialist
Alternative Titles: RMF Analyst, Risk and Compliance Specialist
- Responsibilities: Managing all stages of the risk management framework, conducting risk assessments, and developing mitigation strategies.
- Hiring Tips: Look for candidates with specific RMF or NIST expertise, especially in a FedRAMP environment.
- Good Fit:
> Deep understanding of RMF processes and NIST guidelines.
> Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
> Experience in managing risks for complex IT systems.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Lacks structured, process-driven thinking.
> Overly focused on technical details but not on the broader compliance picture.
> Struggles to communicate risks and mitigation strategies effectively.
Learn more: What to Expect When You’re Expecting a FedRAMP 3PAO Assessment
6. FedRAMP Auditor/Assessor
Alternative Titles: Third-Party Assessor (3PAO), Security Assessor, Compliance Auditor
- Responsibilities: Performing internal or third-party assessments, ensuring all necessary controls are in place and functioning for FedRAMP compliance.
- Hiring Tips: Look for candidates with certifications like CISA, CISSP, or experience working with third-party audits.
- Good Fit:
> Familiarity with FedRAMP, NIST controls, and compliance audits.
> Strong investigative and problem-solving skills.
> Ability to work independently and objectively.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Lacks focus or attention to detail.
> Poor understanding of audit processes or compliance requirements.
> Struggles with maintaining impartiality in assessments.
Learn more: Here’s How to Choose the Right FedRAMP 3PAO to Partner With
7. Documentation Specialist
Alternative Titles: Technical Writer, Compliance Documentation Specialist
- Responsibilities: Preparing and maintaining key FedRAMP documents like the System Security Plan (SSP) and POA&M.
- Hiring Tips: Look for strong technical writing skills and experience producing compliance documentation.
- Good Fit:
> Excellent writing and documentation skills.
> Familiar with technical security concepts.
> Strong organizational skills.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Poor writing skills or lacks experience with detailed technical documentation.
> Struggles to grasp technical or regulatory details.
> Easily overwhelmed by large volumes of documentation.
8. Incident Response Analyst
Alternative Titles: Cybersecurity Incident Analyst, Incident Manager
- Responsibilities: Monitoring and responding to security incidents, ensuring incidents are documented and reported according to FedRAMP guidelines.
- Hiring Tips: Seek candidates with a background in incident response, preferably with experience in a compliance-focused environment.
- Good Fit:
> Experience managing security incidents in real-time.
> Knowledge of FedRAMP incident reporting requirements.
> Strong problem-solving and quick decision-making abilities.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Poor communication under pressure.
> Lacks experience in high-stress environments.
> Overly reactive without following structured incident handling procedures.
9. Continuous Monitoring Specialist
Alternative Titles: Continuous Monitoring Analyst, Security Operations Center (SOC) Analyst
- Responsibilities: Managing ongoing FedRAMP compliance through continuous monitoring activities, such as vulnerability scanning and regular security assessments.
- Hiring Tips: Look for candidates with experience using continuous monitoring tools and knowledge of cloud security best practices.
- Good Fit:
> Strong attention to detail in monitoring security controls.
> Experience with FedRAMP or other continuous monitoring programs.
> Ability to analyze data from security tools and produce actionable insights.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Lacks familiarity with continuous monitoring processes or tools.
> Inattentive to small details or gaps in security controls.
> Poor data analysis skills.
10. Third-Party Risk Management Specialist
Alternative Titles: Vendor Risk Manager, Supplier Risk Analyst
- Responsibilities: Assessing and managing risks posed by third-party vendors, ensuring that vendors meet FedRAMP security standards.
- Hiring Tips: Look for experience in third-party risk management, ideally with a focus on cloud vendors or compliance-heavy environments.
- Good Fit:
> Experience managing third-party risks in a regulated environment.
> Strong understanding of vendor compliance processes.
> Good communication skills for vendor relationships.
- Not a Good Fit:
> Poor communication or vendor management skills.
> Lacks knowledge of third-party risk frameworks.
> Struggles to assess or articulate risks effectively.
By considering these alternative titles, hiring tips, and fit indicators, businesses can better align candidates with the specific demands of FedRAMP roles.
38North Security‘s extensive experience can help you achieve FedRAMP authorization with the utmost efficiency from end to end, avoiding costly errors. Talk to us about documentation development, gap assessment, augmentation staffing, and more.
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