How to Navigate FedRAMP Compliance for eDiscovery in Federal Agencies

96% of companies currently use the public cloud, but Gartner predicts that there's more to that reliance than a convenient source of digital storage. Their leading experts believe that the cloud will be a business necessity by 2028 because of its underlying technology and AI-infused APIs. The cloud isn't just innovative; it's the only efficient way for businesses to stay ahead of the game.

Government agencies must comply with FedRAMP's cloud regulations when storing and managing data used for eDiscovery. Here, we'll discuss what FedRAMP is, why it matters in eDiscovery, and how businesses can comply. Read on to streamline your operations while avoiding non-compliance penalties.

Why FedRAMP Matters in eDiscovery

The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a 2011 government compliance program.

It offers a standardized approach to utilizing cloud services across the United States by:

• Assessing cloud storage and data security
• Authorizing cloud services
• Monitoring cloud products over time for continuous compliance

This matters in eDiscovery because the best SaaS providers offer eDiscovery tools using cloud-based systems. Since FedRAMP compliance is mandatory for eDiscovery providers that serve US government clients, it's critical for all businesses using cloud services for legal applications.

FedRAMP provides federal agencies a secure way to adopt cloud-based eDiscovery solutions. Security can't be an afterthought, especially with sensitive legal data. If you do not thoroughly consider security, you are likely to:

• Face fines and other legal penalties
• Lose trust within your industry
• Contend with lawsuits due to lost information
• Lose an average of $5.17 million in data breaches

There are several reasons that FedRAMP and  eDiscovery are connected, including:

• FedRAMP setting security standards for cloud services used for eDiscovery
• More data protection and confidentiality when using digital eDiscovery solutions
• Making your organization a qualified vendor for meeting government organizations' security needs, which ultimately makes your business more competitive and establishes trust among your clientele
• Risk management since FedRAMP authorization decreases security risks when storing electronic data involved in investigations/federal legal cases/FOIA requests

Cloud Security Is Mission-Critical

Cloud security is essential when managing sensitive data because of access control. Role-based access control and multifactor authentication stop unauthorized personnel from getting the data in the first place, which decreases the likelihood of a breach.

Data encryption is also an important outcome of cloud security. Unauthorized users cannot access data used in legal cases when the cloud is encrypted, even if they manage to intercept it. It will be unreadable to cybercriminals due to the encryption key.

Threat detection and response are also important reasons to prioritize a secure cloud. This is because cloud security solutions are always on the lookout for suspicious activity and alert you if they see abnormal data usage trends. Some can also automatically deploy security features to fend off potential threats.

All these features ensure that you comply with industry-specific regulations governing eDiscovery.

Using standardized FedRAMP procedures means a secure cloud and a compliant company. However, trying to keep up with FedRAMP regulations on yourself can be challenging because of its specific guidelines and thorough regulations. It's easy to make mistakes and find yourself facing fines for noncompliance or lawsuits.

Letting a professional handle eDiscovery cloud security ensures that there are no mistakes. When experienced vendors handle security, you can ensure peace of mind for yourself, clients, and employees. Plus, your agency will be able to focus on primary missions like developing core products and optimizing processes and workflows.

Adopting Zero Trust Architecture

Zero trust architecture (ZTA) is a cybersecurity model for cloud-based eDiscovery information. It assumes that no user or device should be trusted just because of the identity or network connection.

ZTA verifies every access request individually instead of simply letting those within a given location or network access data. This ensures that only authorized users will access eDiscovery information.

Key principles include:

• Minimal data access
• Real-time network monitoring
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

This isn't an optional security measure for cloud-based data. It's essential for secure cloud-based eDiscovery. Adopting ZTA is the only way to ensure compliance with FedRAMP regulations.

The Role of Threat Intelligence in eDiscovery

Threat intelligence is important for agencies looking to proactively protect their data. In legal and investigative processes, organizations may need to hold and store information on the cloud for eDiscovery. Threat intelligence detects potential breaches early to combat them before they become a network disaster.

The recent SolarWinds hack illustrates the importance of threat intelligence software for cloud-based data. The Oklahoma company was breached, and since it had privileged access to log and system performance data, it lost a lot of information to the hacker group Nobelium.

The damage stemmed from the SolarWinds company and impacted the 30,000 organizations that used its management platform. The data was compromised. Networks and systems went down when disaster struck as well.

Threat intelligence like that offered by Reveal's AI-powered platform could have mitigated some of this damage. If the network had more secure detection software, the malware could have been identified and stopped before so many companies were impacted.

Building Community & Partnerships

Finally, collaboration between federal agencies and specialized technology providers makes it easier to comply with FedRAMP. Some reasons for this include:

• Access to FedRAMP authorized solutions that already comply with its standards
• Professional support whenever needed
• Standardized security baselines

Reveal is a trusted partner for government agencies looking to boost their FedRAMP compliance. We offer authorized solutions with specialized features to make storing cloud data simple and secure. This ensures that agencies are not alone when implementing cybersecurity measures.

Comply With the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program Effectively

Now that you know how federal agencies can effectively comply with FedRAMP eDiscovery guidelines, it's time to get started.

Reveal's full suite of discovery solutions is completely powered by the most advanced and effective AI in the industry.

Our AI-driven solutions are designed to solve the most common discovery pain points in a predictable and affordable manner, and they help you do your job as quickly and efficiently as possible. Plus, our industry-leading support and training opportunities ensure that your staff can navigate the eDiscovery process within FedRAMP guidelines.

Our knowledgeable team is excited to show you what we can do to boost your overall operations, so request a demo of our services to better understand what our platform offers.