FedRAMP Services
Insight Assurance is now an active Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO), providing independent FedRAMP assessments across the full authorization lifecycle. We continue to offer expert consulting services to help cloud service providers (CSPs) prepare for both initial FedRAMP authorization and ongoing continuous monitoring.
Whether you are seeking your first Authority to Operate (ATO) or maintaining an existing one, we help CSPs evaluate their security posture, identify control gaps, and ensure alignment with baseline requirements. As FedRAMP evolves into a unified process, our assessments support every step — from readiness to ongoing compliance — fully in accordance with A2LA and FedRAMP standards.
What Is FedRAMP?
FedRAMP is a government-wide program that standardizes the security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring of cloud services used by U.S. federal agencies. Built on NIST 800-53 controls, FedRAMP defines security baselines (Low, Moderate, High) that CSPs must meet to work with the federal government.
FedRAMP authorization is mandated for any CSP that processes, collects, stores, or transmits data/metadata on behalf of a federal agency. This includes Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS), and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) offerings.
Why Pursue FedRAMP Authorization?
Key Benefits:
Access to Federal Markets
Verified Security Posture
Procurement Readiness
Market Differentiation
FedRAMP Consulting Services
- 3-day workshops covering FedRAMP fundamentals
- RADD workshops on risk, architecture, documentation, and dependencies
- Gap analyses to identify compliance shortfalls
- Boundary analyses to define and document your system
- Advisory support for the authorization process
- Technical guidance on controls, documentation, and readiness
FedRAMP Assessment Services
Insight Assurance now offers independent assessments across the full FedRAMP lifecycle:
- Pre-assessments and SCR validations to evaluate control implementation
- Readiness assessments to confirm authorization preparedness
- Initial and annual assessments with full SAR development
- FedRAMP 20x assessments for all types of systems, from simple to more complex multi-environments
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FedRAMP?
FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, is a U.S. government program that standardizes how cloud services used by federal agencies are assessed, authorized, and continuously monitored. Administered by the GSA, FedRAMP applies NIST SP 800-53 security controls across three impact levels: Low, Moderate, and High. Any cloud service provider that processes, stores, or transmits federal data must obtain FedRAMP authorization before their service can be used by a U.S. federal agency.
What is a FedRAMP 3PAO?
A Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) is an independent firm accredited to perform the security assessments required for FedRAMP authorization. 3PAOs must be accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation (A2LA) and are listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace. At the Moderate and High impact levels, FedRAMP authorization requires a completed 3PAO assessment — this cannot be fulfilled by a compliance platform or internal team. Insight Assurance is an active, A2LA-accredited 3PAO listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace.
What are the FedRAMP impact levels?
FedRAMP defines three impact levels based on FIPS 199 classifications. Low applies to systems where the impact of a breach would be limited. Moderate covers most commercial cloud services handling sensitive but unclassified information, requiring approximately 325 security controls. High applies to systems handling mission-critical federal data — including law enforcement, emergency services, and critical infrastructure — and requires approximately 421 controls. Most cloud service providers pursuing federal agency business target the Moderate baseline.
What are the FedRAMP authorization paths?
There are three entry points under the FedRAMP Authorization Act. The Readiness Assessment path does not require an agency sponsor and, upon successful completion, earns a “FedRAMP Ready” marketplace designation. The pre-authorization path requires an agency sponsor and results in an “In Process” listing. The Full Security Assessment path is for cloud service providers with an operational system and a sponsoring agency ready to grant an Authority to Operate (ATO).
How long does FedRAMP authorization take?
A FedRAMP Moderate authorization typically takes 12 to 18 months from the start of formal preparation through ATO issuance, depending on system complexity, documentation readiness, and the sponsoring agency’s review timeline. FedRAMP 20x is designed to reduce this timeline significantly through automation, machine-readable documentation, and continuous assessment models.
What is FedRAMP 20x?
FedRAMP 20x is a modernization initiative launched by the GSA in March 2025 to accelerate the authorization process through automation, OSCAL-formatted documentation, and continuous monitoring. It is designed for cloud-native systems and represents a significant shift from the traditional assessment model — with the goal of cutting authorization timelines from months to weeks and having the majority of requirements validated automatically. Insight Assurance has direct experience with FedRAMP 20x submissions and delivers assessment documentation in OSCAL format.
What is OSCAL and why does it matter?
OSCAL (Open Security Controls Assessment Language) is a machine-readable format for security documentation developed by NIST. FedRAMP requires OSCAL-formatted submissions, and it is the foundation of FedRAMP 20x. OSCAL-native delivery reduces manual processing, accelerates PMO review, and positions cloud service providers for the automated compliance models the program is moving toward. Insight Assurance produces all FedRAMP deliverables in OSCAL format.
Does FedRAMP authorization carry across federal agencies?
Yes. FedRAMP operates on an “authorize once, use many” model. Once a cloud service provider receives an ATO from a sponsoring agency, other federal agencies can review and reuse that authorization rather than requiring a separate assessment. All authorized cloud services are listed on the FedRAMP Marketplace for agency reuse.
How does FedRAMP relate to CMMC?
Both FedRAMP and CMMC are federal security frameworks built on NIST controls, but they address different environments. FedRAMP governs cloud services used by civilian federal agencies. CMMC governs the defense industrial base, contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information on behalf of the DoD. No formal reciprocity exists between the two, though shared NIST controls can reduce duplication of effort for organizations subject to both.