Appinventiv Launches FISMA-Ready Framework to Secure Federal Health Data

July 18, 2025 – Appinventiv, a global leader in digital engineering for regulated industries, announced the launch of its comprehensive framework for developing software compliant with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). This service is specifically designed for healthcare organizations, federal contractors, and technology innovators that handle sensitive data for US government agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

In an era of heightened cyber threats and costly data breaches (which carry a cost of $4.88M on average), achieving a federal Authority to Operate (ATO) is a critical and complex requirement. Our new framework addresses this challenge directly, integrating the rigorous NIST cybersecurity standards into every stage of the development lifecycle. This provides our clients with a clear, efficient, and secure pathway to FISMA compliance, protecting critical ePHI and unlocking access to federal healthcare opportunities.

Appinventiv’s Multi-Layered FISMA Compliance Approach

We have developed a layered, technology-enabled approach to FISMA compliance, tailored to the individual needs of our global healthcare clients. Here is how we go about it:

1. Complete Inventory of Systems: We maintain an inventory of all systems handling federal healthcare data, utilizing automated tools to track hardware, software, and third-party dependencies, ensuring compliance with NIST SP 800-18.
2. Risk-Based Security Controls: We classify systems as high-impact, according to FIPS 199, with strong controls such as multifactor authentication (MFA) and AES-256 encryption to mitigate and quantify risk.
3. System Security Plans: We document and periodically reissue risk-based System Security Plans to document security controls, policies, and processes. In this way, we provide clients a compliant and clear roadmap.
4. Advanced Security Controls: We implement role-based access control (RBAC), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and end-to-end encryption to protect Electronic Protected Health Information (ePHI) by NIST SP 800-53 controls.
5. Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation (CDM): We have also been able to reduce response times from Hours or Days to potentially Minutes, with our AI-embedded tools providing real-time Threat Detection and Remediation compared to those done manually to date.
6. FedRAMP: Compliant Cloud Solutions: To ensure clients have the right cloud infrastructure for handling Federal data, we partner with FedRAMP-authorized providers (like AWS and Azure).
7. Integrated HIPAA: We integrate FISMA and HIPAA requirements by employing NIST SP 800-66 and addressing the 70 additional controls unique to FISMA, in a manner that allows for a shared security experience.
8. Emerging Technologies: We leverage tools like artificial intelligence-enabled threat detection, blockchain for secure data sharing, and federated learning for AI analytics to keep data private & protected.
9. Third-Party Vendor Oversight: We leverage Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with our vendors, as well as conduct comprehensive assessments of Business Associates in a FISMA-compliant manner, to mitigate supply chain risk.

Our Proven Difference: Client Case Study

For a leading federal health services contractor, the mission was to build and launch a new patient data platform under a critical deadline for achieving a federal Authority to Operate (ATO). Appinventiv was selected as the end-to-end digital engineering partner, responsible for architecting, developing, and securing the entire solution.

By engineering the platform with our FISMA-ready framework from the very first sprint, we integrated all necessary security controls and documentation directly into the development process. This ‘compliance-as-code’ approach, built on a scalable tech stack within a FedRAMP-authorized cloud, streamlined the entire security assessment process.

The result: the client’s innovative new platform received its full Authority to Operate (ATO) 35% faster than the projected timeline, ensuring their mission-critical project launched on schedule and with complete confidence.

“We are committed to empowering our healthcare clients with secure, innovative solutions. By aligning with FISMA standards and implementing cutting-edge cybersecurity measures, such as encryption and access controls, we protect sensitive federal healthcare data. Our approach ensures compliance, builds trust, and accelerates success in a secure, digital healthcare ecosystem,” said Appinventiv’s VP of Compliance & Security.

About Appinventiv

Appinventiv is a global digital engineering leader that specializes in building critical software for regulated industries. With a dedicated team of over 1,600 technical experts, we have successfully delivered more than 3,000 projects to clients worldwide. We harness the power of advanced technologies, including AI, IoT, and Blockchain, to build innovative healthcare solutions—from sophisticated telemedicine platforms to interoperable EHR systems—that are designed to enhance clinical workflows and elevate patient care.

THE AUTHOR

Appinventiv Technologies