Accelerate your path to FedRAMP authorization

FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a U.S. government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by federal agencies. It was established in 2011 to accelerate federal adoption of cloud services while ensuring consistent security requirements.

FedRAMP defines three impact levels based on FIPS 199 security categorization: Low (156 controls) for minimal adverse effect, Moderate (325 controls) for serious adverse effect, and High (421 controls) for severe or catastrophic adverse effect. Most commercial cloud services pursue Moderate authorization, which covers approximately 80% of federal cloud use cases.

Traditional FedRAMP authorization can take 12-18 months or longer. The timeline depends on your impact level, organizational readiness, and authorization path (JAB vs. Agency). With automation tools like Evidr, organizations can significantly reduce preparation time by automating evidence collection, control mapping, and documentation generation.

JAB (Joint Authorization Board) authorization is granted by a centralized board composed of CIOs from DHS, DoD, and GSA. A JAB P-ATO (Provisional Authority to Operate) is reusable across all federal agencies. Agency authorization is granted by a specific federal agency sponsor and may be faster to obtain but requires finding an agency partner willing to sponsor your authorization.

A Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) is an independent assessor accredited by A2LA to perform security assessments of cloud service providers seeking FedRAMP authorization. 3PAOs conduct initial assessments, annual assessments, and significant change assessments. You must use a FedRAMP-recognized 3PAO for authorization.

After authorization, cloud service providers must maintain continuous monitoring (ConMon) including: monthly vulnerability scans and POA&M updates, annual security assessments, and significant change assessments when major modifications occur. Evidr automates evidence collection and deliverable generation to meet these ongoing requirements.

FedRAMP authorization costs vary significantly based on impact level and organizational complexity. Typical costs include: 3PAO assessment ($200,000-$500,000+), security tools and infrastructure, documentation development, and ongoing ConMon activities. Evidr reduces preparation and ongoing compliance costs through automation.