Why FedRAMP Matters for Federal Health Care Agencies

And How DSS Health Cloud Is Supporting Secure, Scalable Innovation 

As federal health agencies work to modernize their IT infrastructure, cloud adoption has become essential. However, when sensitive patient data is involved, the stakes are high. Agencies need assurance that the platforms they adopt are secure, compliant, and built to last.  

This is where FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, plays a vital role. FedRAMP provides a government-wide standard for evaluating and authorizing cloud products and services. For agencies like the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), it offers a trusted framework for selecting cloud solutions that meet the highest standards of security and operational reliability. 

At DSS, we are fully committed to supporting this mission. Our DSS Health Cloud is actively progressing through the FedRAMP authorization process, with the goal of achieving FedRAMP High impact level certification. This effort reflects our long-standing dedication to helping federal health care agencies deliver efficient, secure, and Veteran-focused care.

What Is FedRAMP and Why It Matters 

FedRAMP establishes a standardized process for security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring of cloud services used by federal agencies. It creates a clear path for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to demonstrate their compliance with federal cybersecurity requirements. 

There are three main phases in the FedRAMP journey: 

• FedRAMP Ready means the CSP has completed a readiness assessment and is prepared to begin the authorization process. 
• FedRAMP In Process means the CSP is actively working with a sponsoring agency to complete authorization. 
• FedRAMP Authorized means the CSP has received an Authorization to Operate and is listed in the FedRAMP Marketplace for other agencies to adopt. 

For health agencies, FedRAMP is a way to streamline cloud adoption while ensuring that every vendor meets the same high bar for data protection and system integrity. 

DSS Health Cloud: Built for Federal Health IT 

DSSHC offers a robust and secure multi-tenant Platform as a Service (PaaS) that allows flexible integration with Software as a Service (SaaS) applications. It is designed to support the rapid deployment of secure, compliant, and scalable health care applications. 

DSSHC delivers many benefits to federal agencies: 

• Enhanced Security: Built with zero-trust architecture and comprehensive encryption at rest and in transit, ensuring maximum protection for sensitive health care data. 

• Faster Deployment: Enables rapid scaling and deployment of new projects in a fraction of the time compared to traditional on-premises solutions. 

• Increased Efficiency: Helps government and commercial sectors save time and resources by streamlining cloud procurement and enhancing operational efficiency. 

• Improved Interoperability: Facilitates secure data sharing with other FedRAMP systems, including VA's enterprise cloud and DoD’s Medical Community of Interest or MedCOI. 

• Reliability: Configured across multiple AWS Availability Zones and Regions for maximum uptime and disaster recovery. 

Why DSS Is Pursuing FedRAMP High

FedRAMP High impact level certification is the most rigorous tier available under the program. It is intended for cloud systems that manage the federal government's most sensitive data. DSS chose to pursue this level because we believe the Veterans and agencies we serve deserve the most secure and resilient infrastructure possible. 

This journey is being carried out in partnership with our long-standing customer, the Department of Veterans Affairs. With more than 250 contracts and over 20 years of collaboration, the VA was a natural sponsor for our FedRAMP initiative. 

In our recent Q&A with Julie Yost, FedRAMP Program Manager at DSS, she explained what this certification means for our team and our mission. 

"Achieving this milestone promotes continuous improvement and accountability. It supports innovation and efficiency across our teams and enables us to deliver compliant, scalable, and patient-focused health care solutions. It will elevate our standard of care and align departments across DSS around a shared mission, which ultimately serves our Veterans. That is really what we believe in as a company." 

What This Means for Federal Agencies 

FedRAMP certification will help federal agencies adopt cloud services faster and with greater confidence. It streamlines procurement by listing approved solutions in the FedRAMP Marketplace. More importantly, it allows agencies to focus on innovation and care delivery, knowing that their systems meet rigorous federal standards for cybersecurity and reliability. 

For DSS, achieving FedRAMP authorization will open new opportunities to serve more agencies with cloud-based health care solutions that are proven, trusted, and built for long-term impact. The DSS Health Cloud offers the security, scalability, and compliance health care providers need in today’s cloud-first environment. 

To learn more about how the DSS Health Cloud is driving a new era of federal health IT, please click here.