Glossary · Frameworks & standards
What is FedRAMP?
Also known as: Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a US government program that standardizes the security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring of cloud products and services used by federal agencies. Built on NIST SP 800-53 controls, it lets a cloud service earn an authorization that agencies can reuse rather than assessing each provider independently.
Key takeaways
- Required for cloud service providers (CSPs) that want to sell to US federal agencies.
- Based on the NIST SP 800-53 control catalog, tailored by impact level.
- Defines three impact levels — Low, Moderate, and High — based on FIPS 199 data sensitivity.
- Authorizations follow a 'do once, use many times' model that agencies can reuse.
- Demands continuous monitoring, not just a one-time assessment.
Who needs FedRAMP authorization?
Any cloud service provider that wants federal agencies to use its offering generally needs FedRAMP authorization. This includes SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS vendors handling federal data in the cloud. Agencies are directed to use FedRAMP-authorized services, so authorization is effectively a gate to the federal cloud market.
There are two primary paths to authorization: an Agency Authorization, where a sponsoring agency reviews and grants an Authorization to Operate (ATO), and authorization via the Joint Authorization Board path historically used for broadly applicable services. A third-party assessment organization (3PAO) performs the independent security assessment.
What are the FedRAMP impact levels?
FedRAMP defines impact levels using FIPS 199 categorization of the data a system handles. Each level pulls a larger, more rigorous baseline of NIST SP 800-53 controls:
- Low — for systems where loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability would have limited adverse impact.
- Moderate — the most common level, for the majority of federal data where impact would be serious.
- High — for the most sensitive unclassified data, such as law enforcement, emergency services, and health systems, where impact would be severe or catastrophic.
There is also a tailored baseline for low-impact SaaS (LI-SaaS). The chosen level determines the number and stringency of controls a provider must implement and prove.
How does FedRAMP relate to other frameworks?
Because FedRAMP is grounded in NIST SP 800-53, organizations already aligned to NIST CSF or holding a SOC 2 report share substantial control overlap, though FedRAMP is more prescriptive and government-specific.
FedRAMP is distinct from CMMC: FedRAMP authorizes cloud services for federal use broadly, while CMMC certifies defense contractors handling controlled unclassified information. A vendor may need both depending on its customers.
The heavy lifting in FedRAMP is continuous monitoring — ongoing vulnerability scanning, plan-of-action-and-milestones (POA&M) tracking, and regular reporting to maintain authorization.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does it take to get FedRAMP authorized?
- It varies widely by impact level, readiness, and authorization path, and is typically a multi-month to multi-year effort involving a 3PAO assessment and agency review.
- What is a 3PAO?
- A Third-Party Assessment Organization accredited to independently test and validate a cloud service provider's implementation of FedRAMP security controls.
- Is FedRAMP only for the cloud?
- Yes. FedRAMP specifically governs cloud products and services. On-premises federal systems follow the broader NIST Risk Management Framework directly.
- What is an ATO?
- An Authorization to Operate is the formal decision by an agency official accepting the residual risk of using a system, which FedRAMP packages so it can be reused across agencies.