For organizations doing business with the federal government, cybersecurity compliance is non-negotiable.
Two frameworks define the path forward: CMMC, developed by the Department of Defense, and FedRAMP, designed for cloud service providers to federal agencies. Both strengthen national security, but they apply to different types of work and data.
Understanding the Difference
CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) verifies that defense contractors can protect Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI). It defines three maturity levels—Foundational, Advanced, and Expert—each aligned with NIST standards. If your organization supports the Department of Defense, CMMC compliance is mandatory.
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) governs the security of cloud services used by federal civilian agencies. It provides a standardized authorization process for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) handling federal data. Depending on the sensitivity of the information, providers pursue Low, Moderate, or High authorization.
Where FedRAMP Equivalency Comes In
Defense contractors using external cloud providers must ensure those providers meet FedRAMP Moderate or Equivalent requirements under DFARS 252.204-7012.
To achieve FedRAMP Equivalency, a provider must meet the full FedRAMP Moderate baseline, undergo a 3PAO assessment, and document the results as evidence.
Choosing the Right Framework
- Choose CMMC if you work with the DoD or handle defense-related data.
- Choose FedRAMP if you sell or host cloud services for civilian federal agencies.
- Pursue both if you support both DoD and civilian contracts.
- Apply FedRAMP Equivalency if your cloud environment processes CUI for defense clients.
Both frameworks share a NIST foundation, and in some cases, overlap in controls creating opportunities to streamline assessment and documentation.
The Bottom Line
CMMC and FedRAMP both aim to protect federal data, but success depends on aligning the right framework to your business model. If you’re unsure which path applies, Deepsight can help assess your contracts, data flows, and system architecture to define a clear, efficient compliance roadmap.
Get clarity on your compliance path. Talk to Deepsight.