FedRAMP Compliance

The World’s Most Experienced, Technically-Expert Cloud Advisory Team

No other company brings our level of technical expertise to the FedRAMP and cloud security compliance challenge.

FedRAMP is the world’s most demanding cybersecurity compliance standard. Achieving FedRAMP compliance often requires changes to business operations. And maintaining continuous accreditation means avoiding compliance pitfalls in the drive towards technical innovation.

Supporting the Global Reality of Modern Cloud Services

As an international advisory firm, we specialize in helping global organizations navigate complex, overlapping international cloud compliance standards. We guide international companies through FedRAMP compliance and US government procurement processes, to bring international cloud capabilities to bear on US government challenges. We also help US-based organizations translate FedRAMP requirements into the language of international cloud compliance. Our relationships across the major cloud compliance standard bodies, combined with our network of in-country partnerships, enable cloud business on a global scale.

Dedicated Senior-Level Support to Navigate Modern Business and Compliance Challenges.

FedRAMP advisory requires senior, experienced support, to engineer creative, enduring cloud security and compliance solutions. We guarantee our clients dedicated, senior-level expertise. 38North’s core team of over 30 Senior Advisors have been architecting secure, compliant clouds for the US federal government since before FedRAMP launched. We’ve worked with diverse technical configurations, across every cloud model, from hyperscale cloud providers to the smallest startups, domestic and internationally.

Compliance Support So Technical, Even Your Engineers Will Love It.

There isn’t an engineering or development team anywhere on earth that gets excited about an outside compliance team telling them how to build.

So we don’t do that.

Instead, we embed with your engineering and development teams. We understand why they work they way they do. And we help them appreciate the technical security reasons that underpin the more stringent compliance requirements.

Eventually, even the most compliance-weary technical teams quickly learn to trust and respect our guidance as, working together, we chart a course towards a compliant, secure future.

Our c-suite friendly Senior Advisors combine technical expertise with decades of experience in complex business and government environments. Where possible, we help you efficiently shape existing processes and security programs to achieve compliance. When not, we work with your team to build and present business cases, advise budgets, support go-to-market strategies and maximize your return on investment in FedRAMP compliance.

Engineering Secure, Compliant Solutions to Modern Cloud Challenges.

Our approach is tailored to meet client-specific objectives. Some clients just need a basic gap analysis and staff augmentation support. Others want to outsource their entire security compliance and continuous monitoring programs. We work with every major FedRAMP IaaS provider, including AWS, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Microsoft Azure, IBM, VMware and Oracle.

We’re also known across the FedRAMP ecosystem, from the Joint Authorization Board (JAB), to the US Cabinet Agencies and across the US Department of Defense. We understand what these organizations look for when assessing, accrediting and choosing Cloud Service Providers. Based on your chosen path to compliance, we can anticipate objections and avoid roadblocks to provide a smooth transition to FedRAMP compliance.

Our FedRAMP advisory support includes the following services:

FedRAMP Gap Analysis:

Gap analyses are perfect for CSPs that are new to FedRAMP and don’t know how to get started. Our FedRAMP gap analysis will educate you on the process while evaluating your cloud solutions to see how they fare against the FedRAMP minimum security control baselines. The gap analysis results in a prioritized roadmap of actions to keep you focused on the most critical risks and challenges that might complicate your authorization. We also help you estimate the cost to undergo independent assessment by an accredited FedRAMP Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) and attain FedRAMP authorization.

FedRAMP Advisory Support:

If you’ve committed to the FedRAMP process but need help developing the required documentation, our advisory support can help. 38North’s experienced FedRAMP consultants can develop all FedRAMP documentation. This documentation includes but is not limited to the FedRAMP Initiation Request, FIPS 199 categorization, System Security Plan (SSP), Contingency Plan, Incident Response Plan, Configuration Management Plan, Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), eAuthentication Workbook, User Guide, Rules of Behavior and FedRAMP policies/procedures.

FedRAMP Assessment Support:

If you’re preparing for your first FedRAMP assessment but need some assistance, let our experienced FedRAMP consultants handle the hassle of dealing with a 3PAO. We are well-versed with the quirks of the FedRAMP process and can expeditiously resolve findings and streamline the authorization process. We also have relationships across the 3PAO community to help resolve misunderstandings and facilitate a smooth assessment.

FedRAMP Remediation Support:

This service is for those CSPs that recently completed a FedRAMP assessment and need some assistance with the planning, development and implementation of remedial measures. This may come in the form of new technologies, policies, plans, procedures or training and awareness sessions. It may also mean tailoring current organizational processes to squeeze a little more out of existing investments.

FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring:

Achieving FedRAMP accreditation is tricky. But holding on to that accreditation is even harder. 38North’s Continuous Monitoring packages take care of daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual continuous monitoring tasks so you can stay focused on your organization’s success.

Next Steps

Contact us to get started. The first step is a one hour introductory and readiness session, to understand your business landscape and gather technical details, while also making sure that we’re a mutual fit. We also offer unbilled follow up calls if you have any additional questions or need consulting advice as you gear up for the FedRAMP marathon.

Following our initial meetings, formal proposals and pricing are submitted within approximately one week. We can kick-off with a dedicated senior-level team within two to three weeks of contract signature.

5335 Wisconsin Ave, N.W. Suite 640 Washington, D.C. 20015

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Jeremiah Thompson

Director of Cloud Security Architecture

Jeremiah Thompson is 38North’s Director of Cloud Security Architecture. He leads 38North’s technical teams as they tackle engineering challenges and design secure, compliant cloud security architectures.

For over 18 years Jeremiah has helped clients in the commercial, defense and federal civilian sectors engineer secure solutions to modern cyber challenges. Prior to 38North, he served as a Director at Coalfire, one of the nation’s preeminent Third-Party Assessment Organizations (3PAOs). At Coalfire he led FedRAMP and DoD FedRAMP+ assessments supporting Fortune 500 organizations. He was also a Lead Information Security Compliance Auditor supporting the National Cancer Institute, and an Information Security Compliance Auditor at IBM.

Jeremiah currently holds CISSP, CISM, CAP, C|EH, Security+, Network+, CCSK and MCP certifications.

Andy Davidson

Senior Director of Cloud Security

Andy Davidson is Senior Director of Cloud Security at 38North. He leads 38North Senior Advisors as they prepare IaaS, PaaS and SaaS providers for the rigors of FedRAMP authorization. One of the nation’s most experienced FedRAMP practitioners, Andy has been supporting FedRAMP assessment and consulting efforts since the initial FedRAMP pilot project. He specializes in helping hyperscale Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) navigate FedRAMP requirements and successfully achieve Provisional Authorities to Operate (P-ATO).

Prior to 38North, Andy was Senior Director of FedRAMP and Assessment Services at Coalfire, one of the leading Third-Party Assessment Organizations (3PAOs). At Coalfire, he was responsible for growing the 3PAO practice and managing assessor teams in the execution of high profile assessments for Fortune 500 CSPs. He also helped start Veris Group’s 3PAO practice. Prior to Veris, Andy was an IT security consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton, supporting security assessments and engineering efforts across the federal government.

Linda Morales

Senior Director of Global Compliance

Linda Morales is the Senior Director of Global Compliance at 38North Security. She leads assessments for customers in the healthcare, federal and commercial spaces. She specializes in helping organizations prepare for and complete FISMA, FedRAMP and HIPAA assessments. She is adept at leading teams to deliver efficient, accurate security reviews that withstand scrutiny from federal regulators. Linda is also a recognized expert in Healthcare security, helping Health-IT providers secure and defend Protected Health Information (PHI).

Prior to 38North, Linda served as a Director at Endeavor Systems, where she played a key role growing the federal security services practice. She also served as Security Manager for the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) enterprise-wide assessment program, with responsibility for 150+ systems across FAA.

Linda earned a BS in Computer Science and a Masters in Engineering Management, with a focus in Information Security, both from The George Washington University. She is also a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP), Project Management Professional (PMP), and a Registered Practitioner with the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification Advisory Board (CMMC-AB).

Spence Witten

Senior Advisor and Director of Business Development

Spence Witten is a 38North Senior Advisor and Director of Business Development. He serves as a trusted security advisor to 38North’s clients in the cloud services, healthcare, financial, defense and critical infrastructure communities.

Prior to 38North, Spence was Vice President of Global Sales at Lunarline. Spence led sales and marketing across ten cybersecurity business units, culminating in Lunarline’s acquisition by Motorola Solutions. Prior to becoming VP of Global Sales, Spence ran Lunarline’s US Federal Security Services practice, overseeing Lunarline’s defense, intelligence and federal civilian portfolio. He was also an early employee of Endeavor Systems. He played a key role in Endeavor’s rapid expansion in the federal, civilian, defense, and research and development markets, through to Endeavor’s successful acquisition.

An Adjunct Professor at Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Spence serves on the Board of Directors for the Center for Cybersecurity and Privacy Protection at Cleveland State University. He is also a member of CyberOhio, the official cybersecurity advisory board for the Governor of Ohio.

Virginia Suazo

Senior Director of Cloud Security Advisory

Virginia Suazo is 38North’s Senior Director of Cloud Security Advisory. She is responsible for leading 38North’s cloud security and compliance efforts, with a speciality in helping global CSPs juggle multiple overlapping regulatory frameworks.

Before joining 38North, Virginia worked at a tech startup supporting the first and only Red Hat OpenStack Platform that is FedRAMP-authorized. She played a vital role in successfully obtaining FedRAMP Moderate and High authorizations for IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS systems, while supporting other certifications including DoD IL4/5, PCI DSS, HIPAA and HITECH. Her 15 years of cybersecurity experience also includes several tours supporting US federal agencies, including State Department, Department of Justice, Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, General Services Administration and Department of Transportation.

Matt Earley

Founder

Matt Earley is 38North’s founder and President. He started 38North – the premier cloud security advisory company, in the US and internationally – to solve complex security challenges while developing trusted relationships with an elite client base.

For over 20 years Matt Earley has designed and implemented security solutions for the US and Australian federal governments, critical infrastructure, utilities, and for global finance and healthcare organizations. He focuses on lean security architecture design and prioritizing security efforts based on the critical needs of his clients.

Prior to founding 38North, Matt was the director of federal services at Endeavor Systems, where he was responsible for Endeavor’s largest business unit, serving the Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Homeland Security and some of the world’s largest security operations centers. He was also a Senior Manager in the Australian Department of Defense, where he represented Australasia on the Common Criteria Management Board.

Matt has a Bachelor of Engineering in computer engineering from the University of Canberra in Australia, and a Master’s in engineering management from George Washington University. He also is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and Project Management Professional (PMP).