StateRAMP provides a comprehensive security framework designed to improve cloud security for state and local governments. Learn the ins and outs of the StateRAMP compliance framework, its relationship with FedRAMP and how StateRAMP could impact your business. 

As cyberattack attempts carried out against state and local governments continue to become more prevalent, government agencies are in dire need of a way to modernize and systematize their cybersecurity practices — especially regarding cloud technologies. That’s where the State Risk and Authorization Management Program (StateRAMP) comes in.  

According to Comparitech, various ransomware attacks cost the U.S. government close to $19 billion in 2020. And recent ransomware attacks on state-run facilities have highlighted the importance of increased and improved cybersecurity measures for state and local governments.  

StateRAMP provides a comprehensive security framework designed to improve cloud security for state and local governments. It delivers a uniform approach to verifying that cloud service providers (CSPs) meet the standards and regulations needed to do business with state and local governments.  

As I outline the details of the StateRAMP compliance framework and its relationship with the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP), you will see how, and if, this could impact your business. 

The StateRAMP and CSP Relationship 

As mentioned above, StateRAMP was created to help state and local government agencies manage and verify the cybersecurity posture of third-party vendors that provide cloud technology solutions, also known as CSPs. This is important because CSPs have been replacing on-premise information technology (IT) solutions at a rapid rate over the past 10+ years.  

CSPs offer government agencies cloud computing solutions and services like Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), all of which are designed to improve an organization’s agility and scalability. Gaining advanced storage, computing, and analytics capabilities has become essential for many government agencies to increase collaboration and remote accessibility while gaining deeper insights into their data.   

As government agencies adopt StateRAMP to enhance their cybersecurity posture, CSPs that respond to RFPs in those states will need to prove they are StateRAMP authorized. This will be a requirement for any CSP proposals to be considered by certain local government agencies.  

StateRAMP’s Solution for State-based Cybersecurity    

The StateRAMP framework was created by the StateRAMP non-for-profit organization in response to the encroaching cyber threat crisis that stands to disrupt modern life in unprecedented ways. According to StateRAMP, the program’s purpose is to: 

• Help state and local governments protect citizen data. 
• Save taxpayer and service provider dollars with a “verify once, serve many” model.  
• Lessen the burdens on government.  
• Promote education and best practices in cybersecurity among those it serves in industry and government communities.  

Protecting Citizen Data 

In the recent onslaught of ransomware attacks, it is frequently citizen data that’s held hostage by threat actors who demand a payout. This data is often personal identifiable information (PII) that, if exposed, can allow hackers to commit identify theft or monetize the stolen data on the dark web.  

Because state and local government officials are elected to serve the needs of their citizens, keeping personal data safe is a major priority. 

Verify Once, Serve Many 

StateRAMP makes things easier for CSPs by allowing them to transfer their credentials and certifications across a set of uniform standards. The “verify once, serve many” model was designed so CSPs only need to have their cloud offering or product authorized once to confirm its cybersecurity standards are adequate. This authorization is then enough to be recognized by other government agencies that adopt StateRAMP.  

Government employees and officials are able to join StateRAMP at no cost as the program is entirely vendor-funded. This ensures enhanced cybersecurity is accessible for all state and local government agencies, regardless of size or budget.  

Lessening the Burden on Government 

Related to the last point, the StateRAMP model alleviates strain on state and local governments by removing the need for them to conduct redundant security assessments. In addition to being cost efficient because StateRAMP removes the need for repetitive CSP security assessments, it saves countless hours and staffing needs that could be better utilized elsewhere.  

For example, before StateRAMP, a government agency might have to review a dozen CSP vendors that responded to an RFP, even if they knew only a few of them would likely have acceptable cybersecurity standards in place. With StateRAMP, governments don’t have to waste valuable resources doing assessments for organizations that are severely lacking in cybersecurity maturity.  

Promoting Cybersecurity Education and Best Practices 

In the constantly evolving landscape of cybersecurity and compliance, it can be tough to stay up to date on the latest developments and regulations. StateRAMP aims to be as transparent as possible about policies and procedures, making cybersecurity knowledge available for anyone who wants to learn. In fact, the StateRAMP website provides a wealth of documents, templates, and other resources related to StateRAMP compliance.  

After all, StateRAMP was designed to ensure government agencies and CSPs truly understand the reasoning and mechanisms behind the StateRAMP framework.   

How Does StateRAMP Work? 

Much like FedRAMP was created to provide a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services that store, process and transmit federal information, StateRAMP was designed to do the same for state and local government agencies.

StateRAMP’s Security Assessment Framework process is modeled after the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Risk Management Framework. Its primary requirements for CSPs seeking authorization include: 

• Compliance with the security standards listed in NIST Special Publication 800-53 Rev. 5. 
• A relationship with a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) that serves as a partner and educator throughout the entire process.
• Producing an in-depth security report in collaboration with a 3PAO that proves the organization has all the necessary controls in place and meets all requirements for authorization.  
• Participating in continuous monitoring to demonstrate that the organization continues to maintain StateRAMP compliance.  

To have a cloud offering or product become StateRAMP authorized, CSPs must work with their 3PAO to identify their impact level category based on the type of government data they handle, and the consequences that would result if a breach were to occur.  

Each of the four categories corresponds with a defined set of security controls which align with familiar FedRAMP impact levels: 

• Category 1 – This is the baseline any CSP has to meet. It maps to systems that involve publicly available data. Category 1 aligns with the “low” impact level in FedRAMP. 
• Category 2 – This category covers data that is not available to the public, such as PII. Category 2 aligns with the “low” impact level in FedRAMP and contains some elements of the “moderate” impact level control baselines. Category 2 will continue to be developed and validated throughout this year.  
• Category 3 – This category involves confidential data and systems that are of high criticality to the continuity of government. Category 3 aligns with the “moderate” impact level in FedRAMP.
• Category 3+ – This category is reserved for FedRAMP High authorized systems for reciprocity with StateRAMP.  

StateRAMP also provides an official data classification tool that includes a brief survey to help government agencies determine what StateRAMP security category requirements they need to include in their RFPs. This tool can also help CSP better understand the StateRAMP security categories and what they entail.  

Why Is StateRAMP Necessary?  

With so much overlap between StateRAMP and FedRAMP frameworks, you may be thinking, “Why doesn’t a CSP just seek FedRAMP authorization for their products and achieve the same security outcome?”  

It’s a fair question. FedRAMP built a reputation as a model security program over the past 10 years and has authorized hundreds of cloud products. Prior to this year, many CSPs that offered cloud solutions to state and local government agencies found themselves using FedRAMP security guidelines, but were still unable to achieve official FedRAMP authorization. This is because FedRAMP was specifically designed for federal agencies. This means organizations cannot obtain FedRAMP authorization without doing business with the federal government.  

For this reason, a coalition of industry members decided to form the StateRAMP not-for-profit organization to bring FedRAMP’s standardized cloud security approach to state and local governments. As a growing number of states plan to join StateRAMP (the StateRAMP organization is in talks with hundreds of government officials across 35 states and counting), it would be wise for CSPs to start preparing for StateRAMP authorization sooner rather than later.   

In addition to enhancing cybersecurity by providing a uniform approach to risk-based management, accomplishing StateRAMP authorization can help CSPs save time and resources by allowing them to re-use their security authorization across multiple government agencies. StateRAMP also increases transparency and trust between government agencies and CSPs, reducing the likelihood of any miscommunication, oversights, or errors that could affect potential contracts or working relationships.  

Note: For CSPs that do business with both federal and state/local government and are already FedRAMP authorized, a reciprocity program is in process that will allow these organizations to take an accelerated path to StateRAMP authorization.  

Get Started with StateRAMP  

In a time when the public and private sectors are realizing they must work together to keep out threat actors, StateRAMP is a significant milestone for transparency, standardization, and community in cybersecurity.  

If your organization requires StateRAMP authorization to do business with a state or local government agency, A-LIGN can help put you on the right track. Drawing from our extensive experience as a 3PAO for FedRAMP, A-LIGN is one of the only StateRAMP-registered assessors on the market today. Contact us to learn more about how you can get started with StateRAMP. 

If your organization currently serves, or is seeking to serve, cloud products or solutions to a federal agency then you already know you must undergo a Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) assessment. The experts at A-LIGN have put together a comprehensive FedRAMP Authorization guide to help you prepare for the assessment.

Created in 2011, FedRAMP provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services relied upon by federal entities that store, process, and transmit federal information. The goal of FedRAMP is to provide a set of agreed-upon standards to be used for cloud product approval.  

Once you’ve secured agency sponsorship and developed a System Security Plan (SSP) based on your defined categorization level (Low, Moderate, or High), it’s time to work with a FedRAMP 3PAO to perform your Security Assessment. That’s where A-LIGN comes in. A-LIGN is an accredited FedRAMP 3PAO (third-party assessment organization) and one of the top 3 FedRAMP assessors in the world.  

Here is a look at the step-by-step process you’ll need to complete to earn FedRAMP authorization with A-LIGN.  

Before you begin 

This article is intended for companies that have already secured a sponsor and developed an SSP. If you haven’t yet done that, we recommend you take some time to research the FedRAMP process and potentially conduct a FedRAMP readiness assessment. 

Research 

At A-LIGN, we recommend organizations review the following materials to ensure they have a baseline level of knowledge to help prepare for the FedRAMP assessment process: 

Readiness assessment 

Organizations that are familiar with the controls within NIST 800-53, and are FISMA certified, can jump right into the FedRAMP process. If you are not familiar with FISMA or FedRAMP, and have never written a system security plan, we recommend that you perform a FedRAMP readiness assessment, or gap assessment, to determine your level of readiness for the 3PAO assessment. 

A-LIGN can conduct a readiness assessment for you, in which we will review your environment and determine if it is technically capable of meeting FedRAMP requirements. This is a great way to get a pulse on your current environment before investing time and resources into a full assessment.  

Step 1. Pre-assessment review (1-4 weeks) 

If you are ready for an official assessment and have signed a contract with A-LIGN, then we’ll kick off our work with a pre-assessment review phase. During this phase, you will finalize the Cloud Service Offering System Security Plan — which you previously developed — and provide the SSP package (including all attachments) to A-LIGN for review. 

We will use that information to perform a FedRAMP Pre-Assessment Review. During this review, we’ll ensure we have everything we need to proceed with the assessment without any delays. Keep in mind that the quality of the evaluation is dependent on the accuracy and volume of information you provide to us. The more you can provide, the better. 

Once the review is complete and it has been determined you are ready for the FedRAMP assessment, we will schedule a kick-off meeting with you, and our team at A-LIGN to plan out the full assessment.  

Step 2. Planning activities (4 weeks) 

After the Pre-Assessment Review phase, you will need to submit responses to the initial Information Request List (IRL) that A-LIGN provides. While you are working on the IRL responses, we will submit a few materials to your sponsor to review. These include: 

• An Authority to Test (ATT) – This is part of our penetration test planning. 
• A Security Assessment Plan (SAP). 

Step 3. Assessment activities (7 weeks) 

This is the longest phase of the FedRAMP process and consists of fieldwork. The fieldwork is split into phases where we interview members of your team about your cloud service offering and the security controls implemented and review the evidence confirming the proper implementation of FedRAMP security requirements. Keep in mind that we do not begin our evidence review until at least 90% of the IRL evidence is provided by your team. It’s important to plan ahead, so we can stay on schedule throughout the assessment process and avoid delays.  

We will also conduct a penetration test at this time. The penetration test is required for all FedRAMP Authorization assessments for Moderate and High impact systems. Although the penetration test is not a requirement for FedRAMP Ready assessments, it is recommended as a safety net to eliminate any surprises we may encounter during the actual authorization testing. 

Once we conduct the penetration test and get through a majority of the evidence review, we will analyze and discuss the findings with your team via a draft risk exposure table (RET). Once that draft RET is provided to your team, you can create a plan of action and milestones (POA&M) to remediate these issues.  

Step 4. Reporting activities (5 weeks) 

Upon completion of our full evidence review and penetration test and any remediation to correct findings outlined in the draft RET, a draft Security Assessment Report and penetration test report will be provided for review.  

We will analyze and discuss the findings with your team after the remediation period and before drafting a report for you. Once the final report is complete, it will be sent to your Sponsor who will review the SSP and the SAR together. 

Step 5. Sponsor issues authority to operate (2-3 weeks) 

After the Sponsor completes their review, the Sponsor will issue an ATO and the FedRAMP Authorization Package will be sent to FedRAMP to review. Once FedRAMP’s review is complete, you will get your cloud solution offering’s official designation as a FedRAMP Authorized. FedRAMP will list your cloud solution offering as “Authorized” on the FedRAMP marketplace.   

Step 6. Maintain authorization 

It’s important to remember that FedRAMP authorization is not a set-it-and-forget-it process. Ongoing assessments are required to maintain FedRAMP authorization, as annual assessments are required along with meeting FedRAMP continuous monitoring requirements with your Sponsor. 

The A-LIGN team can provide annual assessments (including penetration testing, control assessments, systems scanning, and more) to ensure your cloud solution offering maintains FedRAMP compliance. 

We can also conduct one-off assessments to ensure compliance after your organization undergoes major changes (like an acquisition). During a “Significant Change Request Assessment,” we will review and assess any significant changes that may impact your compliance with FedRAMP requirements. 

Get Started with A-LIGN 

At A-LIGN, we are one of the top FedRAMP assessors in the world, with a 96% satisfaction rating from our customers. Our experts can help you through every step of the process  — from a readiness assessment to final authorization.  

Contact A-LIGN today to learn more about our FedRAMP services. 

There are four different baselines and impact levels of FedRAMP authorization: Low Impact SaaS (FedRAMP Tailored or LI-SaaS), Low, Moderate, and High impact. These categories differ based on the number of control sets each has as its baseline. 

The majority of FedRAMP-authorized organizations pursue Moderate authorization. But today, more and more cloud service providers (CSPs) are looking to move from their Moderate authorization to a High authorization. This higher authorization allows organizations to work with government entities that require more stringent protocols to protect the Federal government’s most sensitive unclassified data. 

Along with opening the door to more business opportunities, higher impact levels can make an organization look more attractive to clients. A higher impact level highlights an organization’s stringent adherence to specific cybersecurity controls, which can provide an extra level of reassurance for clients.  

Here’s how organizations can move from the Moderate impact level to the High impact level. 

FedRAMP Impact Levels Explained 

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, or FedRAMP, is the U.S. Federal government’s internal approach to securing the cloud services that its agencies use. FedRAMP grants authorizations at four impact levels: Low Impact SaaS (FedRAMP Tailored or LI-SaaS), Low, Moderate, and High. Each level has different control sets as its baselines: 

• Low Impact SaaS (FedRAMP Tailored or Ll-SaaS): Ll-SaaS is a subset of low impact and typically includes at least 50 of the controls to be independently assessed. This tailored baseline accounts for SaaS applications that do not store personal identifiable information beyond what’s required for login capability, such as usernames and passwords. Therefore, organizations that achieve the LI-SaaS level would only experience minor adverse effects should a loss of confidential information occur. Information about the security controls required for this designation can be found here. 
• Low Impact Level: Low includes approximately 125 controls. Organizations that achieve the low authorization status would only experience limited adverse effects should a loss of confidential information occur. Information about the security controls required for this designation can be found here. 
• Moderate Impact Level: Moderate includes approximately 325 controls. Nearly 80% of organizations that receive FedRAMP authorization fall into this category. The loss of confidential information in this category would have a serious — but not catastrophic — impact on an organization. Information about the security controls required for this designation can be found here. 
• High Impact Level: High includes approximately 425 cybersecurity controls. Organizations that should seek a High ATO most commonly include those working in law enforcement and emergency services systems, financial systems, and health systems. However, any organization can achieve the High impact level authorization, and they should especially pursue this level if any loss of confidential information could be expected to have a catastrophic impact on the organization. Information about the security controls required for this designation can be found here. 

The Process of Moving from FedRAMP Moderate to FedRAMP High 

The process of moving impact levels is relatively straightforward and is also simpler than achieving initial FedRAMP authorization. The three main steps that organizations need to take to move up an impact level include: 

1. Receive approval from your sponsor. To begin the process of moving to a higher impact level, you first need permission from your sponsor. Identify a new sponsoring agency if the existing sponsor does not want to maintain sponsorship for a High authorization. 

2. Complete the Significant Change Request (SCR) Form. This document, which is published on the FedRAMP website, outlines all of the additional control requirements that would need to be met to move up an impact level. The form includes a checklist of the new controls required when changing from Moderate to High impact levels and identifies those Moderate controls that change under a High impact level.  

3. Undergo a Significant Change Assessment. Finally, an organization should complete a Significant Change Assessment with a third-party authorization organization (3PAO). It is suggested, if applicable, to perform the Significant Change Assessment during your Annual Security Assessment for continued Authorization. This would help reduce audit fatigue that can result from doing an out-of-cycle assessment and help control time and cost. 

How A-LIGN Can Help You Move from FedRAMP Moderate to FedRAMP High 

Even if an organization isn’t actively handling federal data, it can still use FedRAMP’s impact levels as a baseline to evaluate cloud security standards. Moving from FedRAMP Moderate to FedRAMP High means an organization has increased the number of controls it uses to keep sensitive information secure — something that can be attractive to clients.  

As an accredited 3PAO, A-LIGN is one of the top FedRAMP assessors in the world. We help organizations achieve FedRAMP Authorized and move to a higher impact level.  

If you are a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) looking to move from a Moderate to High FedRAMP authorization, A-LIGN can make your FedRAMP process seamless. Contact us today. 

A SOC 2 is a third-party review that attests to an organization’s ability to protect data and information. In a world where data breaches and cyberattacks are on the rise, a SOC 2 report is a valuable tool to:  

• Increase insight into your organization’s security posture  
• Understand opportunities for control improvements   
• Position your company more competitively in your market (prospects want to ensure your organization takes security seriously)  

There are a lot of vendors out there that cater to different aspects of the SOC 2 process — from software providers who help you get audit-ready to certified auditors from CPA firms who can test your environment and issue a final SOC 2 report. Ideally you will want to find a firm that can take you all the way from SOC 2 readiness to report.  

Use this checklist of important questions to vet your SOC 2 auditor before signing a contract. Following this checklist will help you complete a thorough due diligence process to ensure that you partner with the right team and get the most out of your audit.  

1. Are you a licensed CPA firm?  

SOC 2 audits are regulated by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and must be completed by an external auditor from a licensed CPA firm. This is the only way a company can receive an official SOC 2 report. It’s important to confirm that the SOC 2 vendor you are considering working with has the proper accreditation.   

2. Can you provide us with a final report?   

If you are considering using a SOC 2 compliance software provider, it’s important to confirm that they also provide audit services that will result in a SOC 2 report, ideally without having to shift your information to another vendor in the middle of the audit process.   

As discussed above, a final report can only be issued by an auditor from a licensed CPA firm. Many SOC 2 software providers only offer a solution to assess your readiness to complete a SOC 2 audit — they cannot perform and/or issue the SOC 2 audit and report itself.   

If you choose to work with a software provider, you must ensure that they also have certified auditors on-staff. Otherwise, you’ll need to sign on a secondary vendor to complete the actual audit. This is not recommended, as it leaves too much room for things to be “lost in translation” between the two entities leading to wasted resources and delayed audit and report timelines.  

A-LIGN offers an end-to-end compliance solution — with a SaaS automation compliance platform to help you complete a readiness assessment and streamline the entire audit process, as well as certified auditors to produce a final report. This creates efficiencies while maintaining control of your environment.  

3. Do you offer SOC 2 readiness services?  

A SOC 2 readiness assessment is a valuable tool to help you understand your company’s position before completing an official audit. A readiness assessment can help you identify gaps in your cybersecurity procedures (and the severity of those gaps) that need remediation before a SOC 2 audit. This will ultimately help you save time, set priorities, and put your company in a better position to perform well during the SOC 2 audit.  

Companies like A-LIGN provide readiness services via automated software — which offers easy-to-read dashboards outlining gaps and priorities, and provides tips to navigate the audit process better.   

4. What is the timeline of a SOC 2 examination?  

Many software providers tout they can complete a SOC 2 audit in 14 days. It’s important to clarify this statement before signing a contract. A lot of times, the two-week timeline is an estimate for an expedited evidence collection process — but evidence collection is only one step in the SOC 2 audit process and does not result in a full audit or final report.  

Ask your vendor for a complete timeline and have them outline their step-by-step process for moving through the SOC 2 audit. This is essential for you to resource appropriately. It’s also crucial to know when you can expect to have a report in hand so you can properly communicate with prospects who ask about a SOC 2 report during the sales process.   

5. What does the evidence collection process entail?  

The evidence collection process varies significantly based on the scope of your audit. Often it can include hundreds of requests for evidence.  

We recommend using compliance automation audit software to streamline the evidence collection process and organize assets. Ask your vendor if they provide software to assist in this process.   

Through our partnership with leading GRCs and our integrated platform, evidence can be automatically collected through our audit management platform, A-SCEND.

Once collected, A-SCEND creates readable reports that are mapped to corresponding evidence requests from the “information request list” (provided earlier in the audit process). This helps you see what information is already collected and what else your team still needs to gather and provide.   

Audit management software significantly reduces the time it takes to collect, share, and analyze evidence. With A-SCEND, this information can also be stored and re-used to help complete other audits, which delivers a harmonized audit experience that minimizes deduplication and saves time and effort on your audit.​

6. How many SOC 2 audits have you completed to date?  

There is no substitute for experience. Choosing a seasoned SOC 2 auditor will be the difference between a fast and painless audit process that results in a reputable final report and being issued a piece of paper that no one accepts.   

In addition to asking about the number of audits completed to date, you can also get a sense of a company’s experience based on the resources and information they provide about the SOC 2 process on their website. A trusted, experienced partner will be able to provide you with plenty of information to educate you about the SOC 2 process and detailed information about their services and tools.  

7. In what industries do you have experience?  

You’ll want to ensure your SOC 2 auditor is familiar with the ins and outs of your industry, so they understand how the SOC 2 criteria fit your organization. Plus, many elements of SOC 2 overlap with those of other necessary, industry-specific audits. If your auditor has experience in the healthcare sector, for example, they’d be familiar with the overlap between SOC 2 and HIPAA (Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) compliance. They may be able to offer you a SOC 2 + HIPAA combined security assessment. This would allow you to complete both audits simultaneously while saving time and resources.    

8. What other services do you provide that could help as we continue to grow as a company?  

SOC 2 is just one of the many important audits and assessments in the world of compliance and cybersecurity. It’s common for companies who complete a SOC 2 audit to pursue other compliance priorities as well.  

Plus, as mentioned above, SOC 2 overlaps with other audit criteria. Completing a SOC 2 audit positions you well to pursue other complementary certifications. Look for a vendor that offers other audits, attestations, and assessments so you can create a long-term partnership that meets all your cybersecurity and compliance needs. It’s advantageous to build a relationship with one vendor, so as not to duplicate efforts related to evidence collection and fieldwork.  

From Readiness to Report with Trusted SOC 2 Auditors  

A-LIGN is a licensed CPA firm and the top issuer of SOC 2 reports in the world. We have completed more than 5,000 SOC 2 audits and employ over 170+ SOC 2 auditors located around the world.   

In addition to the expertise of our auditors — and our deep experience — we also offer a compliance automation software solution. A-SCEND streamlines the evidence collection process and provides you with all of the tools you need to successfully complete a SOC 2 audit, from readiness to report.  

Contact us today to learn more about A-LIGN’s SOC 2 services.  

  

Ransomware attacks are occurring more often, have become more harmful and now cost businesses a great deal of resources. A-LIGN’s 2022 Benchmark Report showed that of those surveyed, only 39% of organizations have a plan in place, whereas 40% are “planning to develop” something in the future, and 10% said they don’t view ransomware as a main cybersecurity concern. This gap is leaving businesses vulnerable to attacks. To help you best prepare for a cybersecurity event, we break down what goes into a ransomware preparedness assessment. 

Contact A-LIGN to learn more about our one-of-a-kind Ransomware Preparedness Assessment.  

Chief Technology Officer at A-LIGN Recognized as a Top Tampa Bay Executive in Information Technology   

A-LIGN, the leading cybersecurity compliance and audit firm, today announced that the company’s Chief Technology Officer, Mike Herdegen, has been named a 2022 CIO of the Year honoree by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. This award recognizes top information technology executives and emerging leaders in Tampa Bay who are using innovative ways to create a competitive advantage and grow their companies.   

Tampa Bay Business Journal’s CIO of the Year awards program is the most prestigious recognition of Tampa Bay’s top IT leaders and executives. CIOs and CTOs play a critical role in corporate success as technology continues to be a driving factor to operational success in the Tampa Bay business world. These leading executives’ roles daily expand and evolve from IT infrastructure, platforms, and cybersecurity to hardware and software development.   

Herdegen is responsible for internal IT operations, ensuring A-LIGN operates against the highest standards for security in protecting information and system integrity. He also oversees the development of A-LIGN’s compliance management platform, A-SCEND, which enables customers to streamline their audits, save time and resources through automation, and demonstrate their security posture year-round.   

“One of the reasons I came out of retirement to join A-LIGN was because of the organization’s values. A-LIGN has a culture of collaboration, expertise, integrity, and vision,” said Mike Herdegen, CTO at A-LIGN. “The A-SCEND features we are currently rolling out include market-leading new capabilities that keep pace with the rapidly-evolving expectations of our customers. At A-LIGN, support means exceptional service for our clients and opportunities for our employees, and we focus on people and technology to achieve both.”   

The Tampa Bay Business Journal selected 2022 CIO of the Year honorees based on: accomplishments, leadership efforts, ethics in management and business practices, philanthropic contributions and involvement, significant projects spearheaded during the pandemic and over the past year, and how such initiatives have strengthened the company’s strategic market position.  

Herdegen’s team of over 50 domestic and international IT professionals and developers have reimagined the A-SCEND product from an internal facing audit tool to an external facing solution to scale the organization’s footprint in the market as a leader in the cybersecurity service industry. The SaaS platform is purpose-built, performing end-to-end cybersecurity audits through the entire compliance process.   

With an innovative single-provider, readiness-to-report approach, Herdegen’s primary goal over the last year and a half has been to transform A-SCEND into a cybersecurity platform that assists over three thousand clients in their compliance initiatives, and allows their audits to be as streamlined and successful as possible.  

Outside of A-LIGN, Herdegen serves as the primary information technology resource at Think Big for Kids, helping underprivileged youth discover their untapped potential by bringing them exciting career exploration, mentorship, and skill development opportunities. Additionally, Herdegen is on the Tampa Bay Estuary Program’s (TBEP) Community Advisory Committee, responsible for judging the grants provided by TBEP and facilitating grant decision meetings.    

To learn more about the team at A-LIGN, please visit our website.  

For more information about TBBJ’s CIO of the Year honorees and awards and programs, visit

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay.   

About A-LIGN  

A-LIGN is the only end-to-end cybersecurity compliance solutions provider with readiness to report compliance automation software paired with professional audit services, trusted by more than 3,300 global organizations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks. A-LIGN uniquely delivers a single-provider holistic approach as a licensed CPA firm to SOC 1 and SOC 2 Audit services, accredited ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 22301 Certification Body, HITRUST CSF Assessor firm, accredited FedRAMP 3PAO, candidate CMMC C3PAO, PCI Qualified Security Assessor Company, and PCI SSC registered Secure Software Assessor Company. Working with growing businesses to global enterprises, A-LIGN’s experts and its audit management platform, A-SCEND, are transforming the compliance experience.    

Media Contact:  

Danielle Ostrovsky 
Hi-Touch PR 
410-302-9459 
[email protected] 

Zero trust is an important part of President Biden’s Executive Order (EO) on Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity issued in May of 2021 and will continue to gain popularity as an effective cybersecurity solution. It focuses on restricting information access within an organization to only those who absolutely need to access the data. The entire point of zero trust is to assume that everyone is a potential threat actor and therefore, no internal or external users or systems are trusted. 

In our 2022 Compliance Benchmark Report, we surveyed more than 700 cybersecurity, IT, quality assurance, internal audit, finance, and other professionals about their compliance programs. Here’s what we learned about how organizations are implementing zero trust strategies.  

To learn more about strategically implementing a zero-trust architecture within your organization, complete our form below and one of our trusted experts will reach out directly. 

With Three-Year Revenue Growth of 145 Percent, A-LIGN Receives Ranking No. 3569 Among America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies 

A-LIGN, the leading cybersecurity compliance and audit firm, announced today that the company is No. 3569 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. This is the sixth consecutive year the company has been recognized on the list, which represents the most successful private companies with a proven track record of growth. The list represents a one-of-a-kind look at the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent businesses. Facebook, Chobani, Under Armour, Microsoft, Patagonia, and many other well-known names gained their first national exposure as honorees on the Inc. 5000. 

“We are honored that A-LIGN has received its ranking on the 2022 Inc. annual list 5000 as No. 3569,” said Scott Price, CEO at A-LIGN. “We are incredibly proud that our outstanding team is once again recognized among America’s fastest growing private companies. It is truly an honor to be named by the prestigious Inc. magazine alongside these incredible businesses. I am deeply moved by the commitment and dedication of the entire team at A-LIGN, and look forward to the coming months as we continue to provide premier technology paired with expert professional services to our global clients.” 

The companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 have not only been successful, but have also demonstrated resilience amid supply chain woes, labor shortages, and the ongoing impact of Covid-19. Among the top 500, the average median three-year revenue growth rate soared to 2,144 percent. Together, those companies added more than 68,394 jobs over the past three years. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at www.inc.com/inc5000.  

“The accomplishment of building one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S., in light of recent economic roadblocks, cannot be overstated,” says Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Inc. is thrilled to honor the companies that have established themselves through innovation, hard work, and rising to the challenges of today.”

About A-LIGN

A-LIGN is the only all-in-one cybersecurity compliance company with end-to-end-compliance automation software and auditor expertise, trusted by more than 3,300 global organizations to help mitigate cybersecurity risks. A-LIGN uniquely delivers a single-provider approach as a licensed SOC 1 and SOC 2 Auditor, accredited ISO 27001, ISO 27701 and ISO 22301 Certification Body, HITRUST CSF Assessor firm, accredited FedRAMP 3PAO, candidate CMMC C3PAO, PCI Qualified Security Assessor Company, and PCI SSC registered Secure Software Assessor Company. Working with small businesses to global enterprises, A-LIGN’s experts and its compliance automation platform, A-SCEND, are transforming the compliance experience.

More about Inc. and the Inc. 5000 

Methodology 

Companies on the 2022 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2018 to 2021. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2018. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2021. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2018 is $100,000; the minimum for 2021 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons. Growth rates used to determine company rankings were calculated to four decimal places. The top 500 companies on the Inc. 5000 are featured in Inc. magazine’s September issue. The entire Inc. 5000 can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000. 

About Inc. 

The world’s most trusted business-media brand, Inc. offers entrepreneurs the knowledge, tools, connections, and community to build great companies. Its award-winning multiplatform content reaches more than 50 million people each month across a variety of channels including websites, newsletters, social media, podcasts, and print. Its prestigious Inc. 5000 list, produced every year since 1982, analyzes company data to recognize the fastest-growing privately held businesses in the United States. The global recognition that comes with inclusion in the 5000 gives the founders of the best businesses an opportunity to engage with an exclusive community of their peers, and the credibility that helps them drive sales and recruit talent. The associated Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala is part of a highly acclaimed portfolio of bespoke events produced by Inc. For more information, visit www.inc.com.

For more information on the Inc. 5000 Conference & Gala, visit https://conference.inc.com/.  

Media Contact:

Danielle Ostrovsky
Hi-Touch PR
410-302-9459
[email protected]

With the cost of cybercrime predicted to hit $10.5 trillion by 2025, many organizations consider enhancing their cybersecurity programs a top priority. One of the most surefire ways to find gaps in protection comes from completing multiple security audits. But with so many potential audits to pursue, it can be difficult to manage multiple workstreams and keep track of varying control elements.  

Audit consolidation — or, conducting audits in tandem as a singular annual event — is one way that organizations can maximize efficiency. 

Our 2022 Compliance Benchmark Report takes a deeper look into organizations’ views on audit consolidation. We surveyed more than 700 cybersecurity, IT, quality assurance, internal audit, finance, and other professionals about their audit programs to gain a better understanding of their organization’s position on minimizing risk and maximizing efficiency. 

One of the biggest findings we uncovered during our research is that even though 85% of organizations conduct more than one audit every year, only 15% of the same organizations have consolidated their audits down to a single, annual event.  

Frequent audits can be costly and time-consuming, and some industries would highly benefit from audit consolidation. Our survey found that 37% of IT organizations conduct 4-5 audits per year.  We also found that 30% of finance organizations and 35% of government organizations conduct 6 or more audits annually.  

By consolidating the auditing process, organizations can work more efficiently, freeing up resources to focus on other aspects of the business. But despite these benefits, not all organizations prioritize streamlining their audit programs. 

Consolidation efforts vary by industry  

Our survey results found an interesting pattern: certain industries tend to consolidate audits more than others. The healthcare industry is particularly savvy when it comes to audit consolidation, with almost a quarter of healthcare organizations (24%) consolidating audits into a single annual event. This is an increase of 6% from last year, pushing the industry from one of the lowest adopters of audit consolidation to the sector with the highest adoption. With healthcare providers seeing a 117% increase in website/IP security alerts due to malware in the past year, it’s not surprising to see a greater emphasis on security audit efficiency. 

The professional services industry now has the lowest percentage of audit consolidation, hovering at 8%.  

Audit consolidation minimizes stress   

The audit process can be exhausting. Many staff members are often forced to step away from their normal daily responsibilities in order to ensure accurate results during an audit, which requires significant time and energy from every party involved. This reduction of working time can hinder the productivity of the organization.  

When asked about the greatest challenge of their audit process, organizations’ top responses were: 

• Limited staff resources (27%) 
• Tedious and manual evidence collection (21%)  
• The complexity of multiple audits (16%)  

Even with their challenges known, organizations may still struggle to find solutions. A useful tool for assisting consolidation efforts is compliance management software. This software is capable of:  

1. Deduplicating evidence collection efforts, allowing organizations to upload a piece of information once and use that information across multiple audits. 
2. Cross-walking, which is the ability to see how close an organization is to completing additional audits based on the work completed for a current audit. 
3. Centralizing Evidence Collections, which saves time by uploading evidence before fieldwork with one-click batch processing.

Automation tools and audit consolidation can help minimize internal disruptions, along with eliminating redundancies and identifying gaps in coverage.  

Consolidating audits with a Master Audit Plan  

The best way to consolidate your audits is by using a master audit plan (MAP). ​​These detailed plans provide an organization with a more effective approach to the auditing process, offering a clear view of scoping, timing, and internal rhythms.  

A-LIGN has a systematic and strategic 4-step approach to building MAPs for organizations and helping them complete audit requirements. A-LIGN will: 

1. Review current practices and define the audit scope  
2. Create customized timeline recommendations and identify areas of improvement 
3. Determine and confirm a holistic audit approach  
4. Deliver an efficient, collaborative, and scalable audit program 

Paired alongside A-LIGN’s A-SCEND audit management platform, a MAP can simultaneously consolidate your organization’s audits while also minimizing expenses and improving productivity. 

Start building your own MAP 

Although organizations usually complete at least one audit per year, there is no limit for the number of audits that can be completed. However, if your organization conducts more than one audit per year, creating and implementing your own MAP is a strategic investment that will save you time and money.  

A-LIGN works with organizations throughout the entire audit process. Our team of experts ensures your MAP grows with your business and operates as a living document that is continuously updated to reflect the evolution of your audit process. 

Equip your organization with a MAP to efficiently consolidate audits. Contact one of our experts to get started.