Cloud adoption across government agencies has transformed how federal data is managed but also how it must be secured. That’s where FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, comes in.
What FedRAMP Does
FedRAMP standardizes security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by federal agencies.
Its goal is simple: build trust in cloud technology through consistent, measurable security.
Who Needs FedRAMP
Any Cloud Service Provider (CSP) that stores, processes, or transmits federal data must achieve FedRAMP authorization before their solution can be used by government agencies. This includes both U.S. and international providers.
Authorization Levels
FedRAMP defines four impact levels based on the sensitivity of the data managed:
• Tailored / Low – limited risk; few controls
• Moderate – covers most federal workloads; around 323 controls
• High – for law enforcement, healthcare, and critical systems; over 400 controls
How Authorization Works
FedRAMP authorization follows a structured process:
- Preparation: Develop a System Security Plan (SSP) aligned with NIST 800-53.
- Assessment: Engage an accredited Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO).
- Authorization: A federal agency reviews and issues the Authority to Operate (ATO).
- Continuous Monitoring: Maintain compliance through regular security reporting.
Traditionally, CSPs required an agency sponsor, but new FedRAMP 20x initiatives are streamlining this process through automation, continuous validation, and faster approvals.
Why It Matters
FedRAMP authorization is a license to operate in the federal market. It proves your systems meet the highest security standards and allows a single authorization to be reused across multiple agencies, saving time and resources.
FedRAMP vs. Other Frameworks
- CMMC: focuses on defense contractors handling CUI
- GovRAMP: applies to state and local governments
- FISMA/RMF: governs internal federal systems
Understanding where FedRAMP fits among these ensures your compliance roadmap is both accurate and efficient.
Preparing for FedRAMP
Deepsight helps organizations map, assess, and secure their systems to meet FedRAMP standards without slowing innovation. Our team combines compliance expertise with real-world cloud security insight to help you get and stay authorized.
Start your FedRAMP journey with clarity and confidence.