Cybersecurity in federal health IT is no longer a background issue but is central to mission success. As cyber threats become more advanced and health data continues to be one of the most valuable targets for bad actors, the risks of falling short on protection have never been higher.
As such, FedRAMP should not be treated as a finish line. It’s actually the true starting point. In today’s digital environment, achieving FedRAMP certification, especially at the High impact level, must become the minimum standard for any system supporting federal health programs.
The Unique Demands of Health IT Security
Federal health environments are unlike any other. Many systems are interconnected with FDA-approved medical devices that cannot be altered. This presents a challenge where organizations must secure everything surrounding those devices to ensure that data is protected at every step.
Once sensitive data moves from a device into an electronic health record or another system, those platforms must meet the highest standards for confidentiality, integrity, and availability. This makes it essential for health IT providers to pursue security frameworks that anticipate and account for these complexities.
FedRAMP High as the Foundation
The High impact level under FedRAMP was created to protect the most sensitive types of federal information. In health care, this includes mental health data, clinical histories, and other personal records. The consequences of a breach in this space are serious and far-reaching.
Reaching FedRAMP High is not just a technical process. It requires a full cultural shift. Organizations must change how they design systems, how they document processes, and how they manage day-to-day operations. It takes time, coordination, and deep alignment between security and mission priorities.
Security Is Never One and Done
Achieving FedRAMP is not the end, but just the beginning of a continuous process. Maintaining certification requires regular vulnerability scans, quarterly reporting, annual assessments, and an ongoing investment in improvement.
Cyber threats change constantly, and what is secure today may not be tomorrow. To keep up, agencies and partners must adopt a proactive approach that includes internal testing, employee education, and outside audits. Vigilance must be built into every layer of the organization.
Everyone Plays a Role
Security is not just the responsibility of IT teams. It must be part of the entire culture. From phishing emails to fake login pages, many attacks target individual users. That means every employee needs to understand their role in protecting systems and data.
Leaders must foster a culture where security is prioritized, reported on, and taken seriously. Systems should be designed to minimize human error and recover quickly if something goes wrong. Cyber resilience is about anticipating problems and acting quickly to address them.
Raising Expectations Across the Board
FedRAMP helps set up a high bar for security, but it should not be seen as the maximum goal. It is a baseline. Organizations that serve the federal health community must plan beyond the minimum requirements. The stakes are too high to aim low.
When health data is at risk, lives can be affected. The impact of a breach can extend far beyond a single system or agency. By treating security as a shared responsibility and FedRAMP as a starting point, we can build a more resilient, more trusted federal health ecosystem.
Andrea Hopkins is the chief information security officer at DSS, Inc., where she leads cybersecurity strategy across federal and commercial health IT environments.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.