GovRAMP's Cloud Security Progress, Third Quarter In

As we reflect on the past quarter, GovRAMP has made significant strides in advancing cyber security for state and local governments. From hosting impactful events to launching new initiatives and tools, the third quarter marked a period of growth, collaboration, and innovation. Here are some of the highlights: 

State & Local CISO Symposium 

On September 11th, we partnered with the Center for Digital Government to host the 2024 State & Local CISO Symposium. This event brought together key CISOs from across the nation to discuss current challenges, trends, and best practices in safeguarding public sector cloud environments. 

Inaugural 2024 GovRAMP Cyber Summit 

On September 12th, we proudly hosted the first annual GovRAMP Cyber Summit, with presenting sponsor Carahsoft. With over 350 registrants, the event attracted a wide range of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors to explore emerging trends, the role of procurement in supply chain risk management, framework harmonization, and innovations in cloud security. Planning is already underway for the 2025 GovRAMP Cyber Summit. Watch your emails for a save the date soon! For a full recap of the 2024 GovRAMP Cyber Summit, check out our recent blog post here. 

Provider Leadership Council & 3PAO Member Meeting 

On September 13th, we convened a dedicated meeting for our industry and 3PAO members. This provided a platform for discussing progress, upcoming initiatives, and member insights that will shape GovRAMP's future. 

Launch of the NASPO/GovRAMP Procurement Task Force and Cloud Security Resource Tool 

We partnered with our partner NASPO to launch the NASPO/GovRAMP Procurement Task Force, a collaborative initiative to streamline cloud security practices across procurement policies. As part of this initiative, we also released the Procurement Cloud Security Resource Tool, aimed at guiding state and local governments in aligning with GovRAMP standards when procuring cloud services. 

Website Updates 

This quarter saw the launch of significant updates to our website, including improved user navigation and refreshed branding. These enhancements were made to ensure a more seamless experience for our users and better access to our resources. 

Committee Nominations 

We closed nominations for several of our committees this quarter, providing opportunities for members to get more involved in shaping GovRAMP's future and governance. 

Prime Members Bi-Annual Call 

We held our first Prime Members Bi-Annual Call, an important touchpoint for sharing updates, gathering feedback, and fostering stronger collaboration among our Prime Members. 

Launch of RAMPxchange 

We introduced RAMPxchange as a new member benefit, offering an exclusive platform for collaboration, resource sharing, and networking among GovRAMP members. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to enhancing member value and engagement. 

What’s Next? 

As we look ahead to the next quarter, we remain focused on our mission of fostering secure cloud adoption across the public sector. We are grateful for the support of our members, partners, and sponsors who continue to drive our shared success. 

In Q4, we have several exciting initiatives lined up: 

• Late October: A webinar with our legacy member RAMPxchange, introducing the platform's benefits to our members and the rationale behind creating this solution. 

• Mid November: The first Bi-Annual Education Series Webinar (topic TBD), aimed at delivering educational insights and resources for our community. 

• Early December: A webinar with our partner NASPO discussing the Procurement Task Force and recent progress in advancing procurement practices. 

We’re also looking forward to the Q4 Provider Leadership Council & 3PAO Member Meeting on December 5, 2024. 

Stay tuned for more updates in the coming months as we continue to build on this momentum and provide valuable resources, events, and tools to support our community.