FedRAMP: selling cloud software to the government

FedRAMP is the government-wide security authorization for cloud services — one authorization, reusable by every agency.

1. 1Confirm you actually need it — FedRAMP applies to cloud services holding federal data; on-prem software and pure DoW paths (Impact Levels via DISA) differ
2. 2Pick your path — an agency sponsor authorizes you for their use (most common), or pursue the program's newer streamlined paths (FedRAMP 20x)
3. 3Build to the baseline — Low/Moderate/High per FIPS 199; FIPS-validated crypto everywhere
4. 4Produce the package from official templates — SSP + appendices, policies, incident response, POA&M fedramp.gov templates
5. 5Third-party assessment (3PAO) — accredited assessor tests and writes the SAR
6. 6Authorization + continuous monitoring — monthly scans, annual assessments, listed in the FedRAMP Marketplace