FedRAMP, the authorization that opens federal doors.
Selling cloud services to a federal agency means an ATO. We design to the NIST 800-53 baseline, prepare you for the 3PAO assessment, and support you through authorization and continuous monitoring.
Low, Moderate or High — your impact level sets everything
FedRAMP scales to the sensitivity of the data your service handles. The level determines the control baseline, the effort and the timeline — so we scope it precisely, not generously.
Low
~156 controlsPublic-facing or low-sensitivity data, where a compromise would do limited harm. Often a Li-SaaS path.
Moderate
~325 controlsThe most common baseline — serious adverse impact if compromised. The level most agency SaaS lands at.
High
~410 controlsLaw enforcement, emergency services, health and financial systems, where impact would be severe or catastrophic.
Federal-grade rigor, without the federal-grade drag
We implement to the 800-53 catalog and prepare the package your 3PAO and authorizing official actually need — then keep it alive after ATO.
Federal-grade rigor is an extension of how we already build for healthcare.
We implement to NIST 800-53 — the catalog FedRAMP is built on — not a summary of it.
The SSP, SAP and mapped evidence your third-party assessor expects, prepared up front.
FedRAMP doesn't end at ATO — we stand up the continuous monitoring it requires.
How a FedRAMP engagement works
From confirming your impact level to a granted ATO and live continuous monitoring — we own the technical and documentation lift.
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01Readiness & gap assessment
We confirm your impact level, map your architecture to the 800-53 baseline, and surface every gap between where you are and an ATO.
- Impact level (FIPS 199)
- 800-53 gap analysis
- Authorization boundary
- Prioritized remediation plan
02System Security Plan (SSP)
We author the SSP and supporting documents that describe — in the detail an assessor needs — exactly how every control is met.
- SSP authoring
- Control narratives
- Policies & procedures
- Boundary & architecture docs
03Control implementation
We build the technical controls into your cloud environment to federal standards, in infrastructure-as-code — not a slide deck of intentions.
- Hardened cloud baseline
- FIPS-validated encryption
- Access & audit controls
- Infrastructure-as-code
04Assessment & ATO support
We prepare you for the 3PAO, manage the findings, and support the agency or Board through authorization and into continuous monitoring.
- 3PAO coordination
- POA&M management
- Authorization support
- Continuous monitoring setup
The NIST 800-53 control families that carry the weight
Access control (AC)
Identity, least privilege and authentication across the authorization boundary.
- Least privilege
- MFA & PIV/CAC
- Session controls
- Access reviews
System & crypto (SC)
FIPS-validated encryption and boundary protection for data in transit and at rest.
- FIPS 140 crypto
- TLS everywhere
- Boundary protection
- Key management
Audit & accountability (AU)
Comprehensive, tamper-evident logging mapped to the events FedRAMP requires.
- Event logging
- Tamper-evidence
- Retention
- Review & alerting
Configuration management (CM)
Hardened, baselined and continuously enforced system configuration.
- Hardening baselines
- Change control
- Inventory
- Drift detection
Incident response (IR)
Detection, response and US-CERT reporting on the timelines FedRAMP mandates.
- IR plan
- Detection & triage
- US-CERT reporting
- Tabletop exercises
Continuous monitoring (CA)
The ongoing scans, POA&M and deliverables that keep an ATO alive.
- Vulnerability scans
- POA&M management
- Monthly deliverables
- Annual assessment
Whatever stage of the federal journey you're at
Chasing a first ATO, maintaining one you already hold, or building a posture that serves many agencies — we scope to where you are.
SaaS selling into federal agencies
An agency wants your product but can't buy without an ATO. We get you authorization-ready at the right impact level — without scoping to High when Moderate will do.
- Right impact level
- Sponsor-ready package
- Faster first ATO
- Reusable authorization
Teams maintaining an ATO
You're authorized, but continuous monitoring and the annual assessment have become a grind. We operationalize ConMon so it runs as a process, not a panic.
- ConMon automation
- POA&M hygiene
- Annual assessment prep
- Significant-change support
Vendors serving many agencies
You need an authorization that travels. We help you stand up a reusable, agency-friendly posture so each new agency is a reuse, not a restart.
- Reusable boundary
- Agency reuse
- Inheritance model
- Multi-agency evidence
Two paths to authorization
FedRAMP grants authorization two ways. We help you choose the path that fits your buyer and your timeline — then run it.
An agency you're selling to sponsors and grants your authorization. Faster when you have a committed sponsor — and the ATO can then be reused by other agencies.
- Needs an agency sponsor
- Often faster to first ATO
- Reusable across agencies
- Agency-specific starting point
The Board grants a provisional authorization — a higher bar with the broadest recognition and no single sponsor required. Best for products with wide federal demand.
- No single sponsor needed
- Broadest recognition
- Higher bar to entry
- Prioritized via FedRAMP Connect
From categorize to continuous monitoring
Set the FIPS 199 impact level for the data in scope.
Define the authorization boundary and select the baseline.
Build and document the controls in the environment.
Independent 3PAO security assessment.
The agency or Board reviews and grants the ATO.
Continuous monitoring — scans, POA&M, annual review.
FedRAMP principles we build by
The convictions that keep authorization from turning into an open-ended project with no edge.
Scope to the impact level
We right-size to Low, Moderate or High — over-scoping just burns months and budget for assurance you don't need.
Controls as code
The cloud baseline lives in infrastructure-as-code, so it's repeatable, reviewable and survives re-assessment.
Evidence the 3PAO can use
Documentation and evidence mapped to controls the way assessors actually expect to receive them.
ConMon from day one
We design for continuous monitoring up front — not as a scramble the month after authorization.
One boundary, clearly drawn
A crisp authorization boundary is the single biggest lever on scope, cost and timeline. We draw it deliberately.
Build for reuse
An authorization other agencies can inherit, so the effort compounds instead of repeating.
FedRAMP readiness FAQ
How long does FedRAMP authorization take?
It depends on your impact level and current state — typically several months to over a year. The authorization boundary and how much remediation you need are the big variables, which is why we start with a gap assessment and a scoped timeline rather than a guess.
Agency ATO or JAB — which path?
If you have a committed agency sponsor, an Agency ATO is usually faster and then reusable. The Board path (P-ATO) has the broadest recognition but a higher bar and no single sponsor. We help you choose based on your pipeline, not the brochure.
Do you perform the 3PAO assessment?
No — that must be an independent, accredited Third Party Assessment Organization. We prepare the SSP and evidence, run a mock assessment, and support you through the real one, but the assessment itself stays independent.
We already have SOC 2 — does it help?
Yes. SOC 2 controls overlap meaningfully with NIST 800-53, so a good chunk of the work carries over. FedRAMP is more prescriptive and adds federal-specific requirements, but you won't be starting from zero.
What is continuous monitoring (ConMon)?
FedRAMP doesn't end at the ATO. ConMon is the ongoing obligation — monthly vulnerability scans, POA&M updates, and an annual assessment — required to keep your authorization active. We build for it from the start so it runs as a process.
Need an ATO to sell to a federal agency?
Tell us the agency, the data and the deadline. We'll come back with a scoped path to authorization — at the right impact level, not the most expensive one.
Talk to our team