Case Study
Improving Efficiency and Compliance with DevSecOps and Cloud Transformation
The Recovery Cloud Environment (RCE) platform is FEMA Recovery Technology Program Division’s (RTPD’s) modern cloud-based solution, providing development teams with faster production deployment using Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. RCE supports multiple modernizing subsystems and offers RTPD scalability, quick changes, compliance, and secure infrastructure while responding to the urgent needs of the communities they serve.
Key Challenges
- Breaking silos between development, security, and operations
- Compliance and regulatory constraints
- Automating manual processes
- Customer-centric focus
- Responding to vulnerabilities quickly
- Resource and funding constraints
Our Approach
- Create an AWS GovCloud-based shared environment for FEMA Modernization efforts.
- Adhere to DHS/FEMA OCIO DevSecOps guidance and integrate compliance standards.
- Improve efficiency by eliminating redundant cloud hosting processes.
- Implement continuous vulnerability scanning in the CI/CD pipeline.
- Adopt a “shift-left” approach by integrating automated testing and security tools earlier in the development lifecycle.
- Eliminate redundant ATO processes for new cloud tenants/systems by updating control statements.
- Simplify identity management for new tenants/systems.
- Provide improved system observability via DataDog.
- Allow product dev teams to focus on improvement while the RCE team manages deployments.
- Implement a data-driven feedback loop for continuous improvement.
Results
Results
- Faster Development and Deployment: 25% reduction in development cycle times due to integrated security testing.
- Improved Security: dramatic reduction in vulnerabilities found in production 90% earlier in the dev lifecycle due to automated scanning and monitoring.
- Enhanced Compliance and Audibility: Automated security and compliance checks ensure continuous adherence to federal regulations.
- Better Collaboration: Improved efficiency through enhanced teamwork between development, security, and operations departments.
- Cost Reduction: Automation of security and compliance processes reduced operational costs.
Conclusion
By adopting DevSecOps through the RCE implementation, FEMA improved software delivery speed and security while also reducing vulnerabilities and enhancing compliance with federal regulations. The transformation resulted in a more secure, efficient, and collaborative environment that better serves the agency’s critical mission of disaster response and recovery.