FedRAMP Certification and Compliance: What It Is and Why It Matters

Cloud technologies increase access to information, streamline communication between government agencies and citizens, and accelerate information sharing. And that’s why the U.S. government has become a champion of cloud computing.

But each perk comes with a risk, and in response, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) created the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP). If you’re a cloud service provider (CSP), software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, or other vendor interested in working with federal government agencies, FedRAMP certification proves that your organization meets the security standards required to successfully safeguard information.

Here’s how to get FedRAMP certification.

What Is FedRAMP?

FedRAMP is a set of standards and certification processes that helps CSPs mitigate risk when working with government agencies. Federal data is sensitive, and for cloud software to be eligible for government use, it needs to be FedRAMP certified. This means the software has to undergo standardized authorizations, security assessments, and continuous monitoring to ensure trustworthiness.

While the OMB initially developed FedRAMP in 2011, many other entities have come together to operate the program, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Think of the Department of the Treasury. This agency uses cloud services to manage highly sensitive financial information across the country. By working with a FedRAMP-compliant CSP, the agency knows that data is as safe as possible.

FedRAMP Compliance Requirements: How to Earn a FedRAMP Cloud Certification

Here’s a quick guide to the FedRAMP certification process:

1. Gather FedRAMP Documents

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