By Chor-Ching Fan
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) has responded to the unprecedented pace of expanding cyber attacks against systems used by federal government agencies with the release of its Rev 5 baselines, placing a significant emphasis on phishing-resistant multifactor authentication (MFA). This move comes in the wake of increased phishing attacks and several high-profile breaches that have exposed vulnerabilities in traditional authentication methods.
The Rising Threat of Phishing
Phishing attacks have become a preferred method for cybercriminals due to their effectiveness in bypassing conventional security measures. These attacks often involve tricking users into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or OTPs (one-time passwords), through deceptive emails or websites. High-profile breaches, such as the SolarWinds and Snowflake incidents, have underscored the devastating impact a single compromised user can have on an organization’s security.
FedRAMP Rev 5: A New Era of Security
FedRAMP’s Rev 5 baselines align with the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Special Publication (SP) 800-53 Rev 5, which provides a comprehensive catalog of security and privacy controls for federal information systems. One of the key updates in Rev 5 is the enhanced requirements for control IA-2, which mandates the use of phishing-resistant MFA.
NIST SP 800-63: The Foundation of Digital Identity
NIST SP 800-63, first established in 2017 and recently updated, provides guidelines for digital identity services, including identity proofing, authentication, and federation. The guidelines emphasize the need for strong authentication mechanisms to protect against phishing and other cyber threats. The latest updates to NIST SP 800-63 highlight the importance of phishing-resistant MFA, aligning with the directives of Executive Order 14028, which mandates enhanced cybersecurity measures across federal agencies.
Why Phishing-Resistant MFA?
Traditional MFA methods, such as SMS, voice, and email OTPs, have proven to be vulnerable to phishing attacks, protocol exploitation, and SIM swapping. To address these vulnerabilities, FedRAMP now requires the implementation of more secure authentication methods that are resistant to phishing. These include:
- FIDO2/WebAuthn: These standards use public-key cryptography to verify a user’s identity, eliminating the need for passwords and significantly reducing the risk of credential theft.
- PKI-Based Standards: Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) uses digital certificates and encryption to provide a high level of trust and security in user authentication.
Implementing Phishing-Resistant MFA
The adoption of phishing-resistant MFA is not without its challenges. Implementing FIDO2/WebAuthn and PKI-based standards often requires significant investment in infrastructure and training. However, the benefits far outweigh the costs, as these methods provide robust protection against sophisticated phishing attacks.
For non-administrative users, standard FIDO MFA implementations can offer a secure and user-friendly authentication process. For administrative users, who have elevated access privileges, more advanced methods like FIDO2/WebAuthn or PKI-based standards are recommended to ensure the highest level of security.
The Path Forward
As cyber threats continue to evolve, so too must our security measures. FedRAMP’s emphasis on phishing-resistant MFA in Rev 5 is a crucial step towards enhancing the security of federal information systems. By adopting these advanced authentication methods, organizations can better protect themselves against the growing threat of phishing attacks and ensure the integrity of their systems.
The shift towards phishing-resistant MFA is not just a regulatory requirement but a necessary evolution in the fight against cyber threats. As FedRAMP Rev 5 makes clear, it is imperative that organizations invest in these robust security measures to safeguard their data and maintain trust in their digital infrastructure.
How Rizkly Can Help
Whether you’re transitioning to FedRAMP Rev. 5 or enhancing your existing security protocols, Rizkly’s FedRAMP and CMMC compliance automation software along with expert guidance options are here to support you. Rizkly simplifies your remediation efforts with built-in recommendations for addressing all CMMC and NIST 800-53/FedRAMP/StateRAMP controls. Contact us today to learn how we can simplify your compliance initiative towards stronger, phishing-resistant authentication and help you stay ahead of evolving cyber threats.
