When we founded Civis in 2013, we set out with a mission to help organizations make better decisions through data. We recognized early on that data teams were struggling with disconnected tools and piecemeal solutions. That's why we built Civis Platform—a complete, managed AI platform that gives teams the power of many tools in a single, integrated solution.
Today, I'm incredibly proud to share that Civis Platform has achieved FedRAMP Moderate Authorization. This milestone is particularly meaningful because it allows us to bring our unified data science and analytics capabilities to federal, state, and local agencies with the security rigor they demand. As someone who has been deeply involved in this multi-year journey, I want to provide insight into what this achievement truly means from a technical perspective.
Understanding the Technical Bar
FedRAMP isn't just another compliance checkbox. It represents one of the most comprehensive and rigorous security frameworks in the cloud computing industry. Achieving Moderate Authorization means we've successfully implemented and validated over 325 security controls across 17 control families, each scrutinized by independent third-party assessors.
To put this in perspective, here are some of the key technical requirements we had to meet:
NIST-Certified FIPS Encryption
Every piece of data flowing through our platform, whether at rest or in transit, must be protected using FIPS 140-2 validated cryptographic modules. This meant:
- Implementing FIPS-compliant encryption algorithms across our entire infrastructure
- Ensuring all TLS connections use FIPS-approved cipher suites
- Replacing any legacy encryption methods with NIST-approved alternatives
- Validating that our key management systems meet federal standards for key generation, storage, and rotation
Our engineering team spent months auditing every component of platform, from the endpoints we use to talk to AWS to the servers that run imports and exports, to ensure complete FIPS compliance.
Continuous Monitoring Program
While external assessments may find point-in-time issues, continuous monitoring ensures that we respond to new threats and stay secure. We've built a comprehensive program that includes:
- Real-time Security Information and Event Management (SIEM): Our platform generates, collects, and analyzes millions of security events daily, with automated alerting for anomalous behavior
- Automated Vulnerability Scanning: Daily authenticated scans of all infrastructure components, with strict timelines for resolutions
- Annual Penetration and Security Control Testing: Regular third-party assessments to identify potential weaknesses before they can be exploited
This continuous monitoring framework required us to build sophisticated automation and integrate multiple security tools into a cohesive platform that provides real-time visibility into our security posture.
Supply Chain Protection
A critical component of FedRAMP compliance is supply chain risk management. We implemented comprehensive controls throughout our engineering and procurement processes to ensure the integrity of our software supply chain:
- Vendor Risk Assessments: Formal security evaluations of all critical vendors and service providers
- Code Integrity Verification: Cryptographic signing and verification of all code deployments
- Dependency Scanning: Automated scanning of all dependencies for known vulnerabilities, with a formal patch management process
Zero Trust Architecture
In a world with ever-evolving threats, traditional security measures like VPNs and boundary protections are no longer adequate. We redesigned our network and authentication architecture around zero-trust principles, including:
- No implicit trust based on network location
- Continuous verification of every request
- Principle of least privilege enforced at every layer
What This Means for Our Customers
This authorization isn't just about meeting government requirements—it represents a fundamental elevation of our security posture that benefits all our customers. The controls, processes, and technologies we've implemented provide:
- Enhanced Data Protection: Your data is protected by the same rigorous standards used for federal government systems
- Reduced Risk: Our continuous monitoring and vulnerability management programs help identify and remediate threats before they can impact your operations
- Transparency: Regular third-party assessments and continuous monitoring provide ongoing validation of our security posture
- Compliance Confidence: Whether you're subject to HIPAA, SOC 2, or FedRAMP compliance frameworks, our controls will provide your team with confidence.
Looking Forward
Achieving FedRAMP Moderate Authorization truly required effort from every corner of Civis. I want to thank our entire engineering team for their technical excellence, and every Civis employee who contributed to making this milestone possible.
For our government partners, this authorization means you can leverage Civis Platform's advanced analytics capabilities with confidence, knowing that your data is protected by security measures that meet the government's exacting standards. For all our customers, it represents our ongoing commitment to maintaining the highest levels of security and compliance.
