FedRAMP (the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is the U.S. government’s standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud services used by federal agencies. If you want to sell a cloud product to the federal government, FedRAMP is usually the front door.
What FedRAMP actually is
FedRAMP is built on NIST SP 800-53 controls and applies a “do once, use many times” model: a cloud service offering is assessed once by an accredited third party (a 3PAO), authorized, and then reusable across agencies. Offerings are categorized by impact level — Low, Moderate, and High — based on the sensitivity of the data they handle.
How authorization works
- A cloud service provider partners with a sponsoring agency and an accredited 3PAO.
- The provider documents controls in a System Security Plan and is independently assessed.
- Once authorized, the offering is listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace, where agencies can find and reuse it.
- Authorization is not the finish line — continuous monitoring keeps it valid.
FedRAMP vs. CMMC — a common mix-up
They are different programs for different systems. FedRAMP authorizes cloud services sold to federal agencies and is based on NIST 800-53. CMMC verifies that a defense contractor’s own systems protect CUI, based on NIST 800-171. A contractor may need CMMC for its environment and use FedRAMP-authorized cloud services within it — the two coexist.
Who needs it and how to start
Any cloud service provider targeting federal customers should plan for FedRAMP. Start by identifying your impact level, selecting a cloud platform with the right authorization boundary (many build on an authorized IaaS like GovCloud or Azure Government), engaging a 3PAO, and lining up an agency sponsor.
Serving state and local government instead? See GovRAMP.