NIST/FedRAMP Controls Testing Guide¶

Overview¶

This comprehensive guide provides practical testing methodologies and checklists for evaluating NIST and FedRAMP security controls in Google Cloud Platform (GCP) and Google Workspace environments. Whether you're preparing for a FedRAMP assessment, conducting internal audits, or implementing NIST controls, these resources will help ensure thorough compliance validation.

Purpose¶

Standardized Testing: Provide consistent methodologies for testing NIST/FedRAMP controls
Google-Specific Guidance: Focus on GCP and Google Workspace implementation details
Practical Tools: Include CLI commands, automation scripts, and assessment checklists
Evidence Collection: Guide assessors in gathering appropriate documentation and artifacts

Control Families¶

Google Cloud Platform (GCP)¶

Access Control (AC)

Manage user access, permissions, and authentication mechanisms in GCP environments

GCP Access Control Testing
Configuration Management (CM)

Assess baseline configurations, change control, and security settings in GCP

GCP Configuration Management
Identification & Authentication (IA)

Verify identity management, multi-factor authentication, and credential policies

GCP Identity & Authentication
System & Communications Protection (SC)

Test network security, encryption, and data protection controls in GCP

GCP Communications Protection
System & Information Integrity (SI)

Validate monitoring, vulnerability management, and integrity controls

GCP System Integrity

Google Workspace¶

Coming Soon: Workspace Controls

Comprehensive testing guides for NIST/FedRAMP controls in Google Workspace environments

View Roadmap

Key Features¶

🎯 Control-Specific Checklists¶

Step-by-step verification procedures
Required evidence documentation
Common implementation patterns

🛠️ Technical Implementation¶

gcloud CLI commands for evidence collection
API queries for automated testing
Security Command Center integration

📊 Assessment Tools¶

Pre-configured compliance reports
Evidence collection templates
Finding documentation formats

🔄 Automation Options¶

Policy-as-Code examples
Continuous compliance monitoring
Integration with GCP native tools

Getting Started¶

Identify Your Baseline: Determine which FedRAMP baseline (Low, Moderate, High) or NIST framework applies
Review Control Families: Navigate to relevant control family guides
Execute Testing: Follow the checklists and use provided commands
Document Findings: Use templates to record evidence and observations
Remediate Issues: Address any identified gaps or deficiencies

Best Practices¶

Assessment Preparation

Review the System Security Plan (SSP) before testing
Ensure proper access permissions for evidence collection
Coordinate with system owners for testing windows
Document all assumptions and limitations

Common Pitfalls

Testing in production without approval
Incomplete evidence collection
Missing control inheritance documentation
Overlooking compensating controls

Resources¶

Roadmap¶

Current Release¶

✅ GCP Access Control (AC) Testing Guide
✅ GCP Configuration Management (CM) Testing Guide
✅ GCP Identification & Authentication (IA) Testing Guide
✅ GCP System & Communications Protection (SC) Testing Guide
✅ GCP System & Information Integrity (SI) Testing Guide

Upcoming Releases¶

🚧 Google Workspace Access Control Testing Guide
🚧 Google Workspace Data Protection Guide
🚧 Automated Compliance Scanning Tools
🚧 Integration with Security Command Center
🚧 Continuous Compliance Monitoring Playbooks

Contributing¶

We welcome contributions to improve and expand these testing guides. Please see our Contributing Guidelines for more information.

Support¶

For questions or support regarding these testing guides: - Create an issue in our GitHub repository - Contact the security team at security@yourorganization.com