How to Get FedRAMP Certified: A Step-by-Step Guide

Written by Sera Brynn | July 1, 2025 at 2:17 PM

If your cloud service is aiming to work with U.S. federal agencies, FedRAMP certification is a critical requirement. But the road to authorization can feel overwhelming without clear guidance. This step-by-step guide breaks down the FedRAMP process into manageable phases, helping you understand what to expect, how to prepare, and who to involve at each stage. Whether you're new to federal compliance or already managing multiple regulatory frameworks, this article will help you take the right next steps toward FedRAMP certification.

What You’ll Learn:

The two main authorization pathways
Required documentation and assessment steps
The role of readiness assessments and continuous monitoring
Key compliance challenges and how to overcome them

FedRAMP Compliance: Why It Matters

If you offer cloud-based services to U.S. federal agencies, FedRAMP certification is not optional—it is required. But for startups and seasoned providers alike, navigating FedRAMP’s complex process can be daunting. This guide walks through each step with clarity, from classification and documentation to authorization and monitoring. Whether you're pursuing a Joint Authorization Board (JAB) P-ATO or an Agency ATO, this article breaks down the most important things you need to know.

Step 1: Determine Your Impact Level

FedRAMP follows the NIST FIPS 199 standard to classify cloud systems as Low, Moderate, or High impact based on the potential consequences of a data breach to Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability (CIA) of the system. Here’s how they compare:

Impact Level	Typical Use Cases	Type of Data	Security Control Baseline
Low Impact	Public-facing systems, basic services with minimal sensitivity	Public or non-sensitive information (e.g., open data portals, basic SaaS tools)	~125 controls
Moderate Impact	Internal agency operations, most mission-support systems	Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), sensitive but unclassified data	~325 controls
High Impact	Mission-critical, life-or-death, or national security systems	Health records, law enforcement, emergency services, financial or defense data	~421 controls

Step 2: Choose Your Authorization Pathway

There are two FedRAMP authorization pathways:

JAB Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO): Coordinated through the FedRAMP PMO and reviewed by the JAB (comprising GSA, DoD, and DHS). Limited availability but offers broad reusability.
Agency Authority to Operate (ATO): Involves securing a sponsor agency and aligning to their security needs. Greater flexibility and typically faster to initiate.

A side-by-side comparison can help identify which route fits your goals and existing agency relationships.

Criteria	Agency Authorization Path	JAB Authorization Path
Initiating Party	CSP works directly with a federal agency sponsor.	CSP is selected by the JAB through a competitive process.
Sponsorship Required	Yes, must have a confirmed federal agency sponsor.	No specific agency required at the start, JAB acts as the sponsor.
Selection Process	Open to any CSP that can find an agency sponsor.	Highly selective, JAB selects only 12 CSPs per year.
Speed & Flexibility	Potentially faster if the agency is engaged and experienced.	Longer due to strict prioritization and deeper review process.
Control Over Timeline	More control, timeline is set between the CSP and agency.	Less control, JAB sets the schedule and priorities.
Post-Authorization Visibility	Listing on the FedRAMP Marketplace after ATO granted by the agency.	Listing on the FedRAMP Marketplace with JAB P-ATO, viewed as a high-trust credential.
Level of Scrutiny	May vary by agency; generally thorough but more flexible.	Consistently rigorous, JAB includes GSA, DoD, and DHS oversight.
Best For	CSPs with strong agency relationships or a narrow agency use case.	CSPs offering broadly useful services for many agencies and with significant security maturity.

Step 3: Conduct a Readiness Assessment

For JAB authorization, a formal Readiness Assessment Report (RAR) conducted by an accredited 3PAO is required. For the Agency path, a readiness assessment is optional but highly recommended to identify potential compliance gaps early. This process evaluates your system’s security posture, documentation completeness, and implementation status.

Step 4: Complete the Full Security Assessment

Once ready, a FedRAMP 3PAO performs an in-depth assessment. This includes:

Reviewing the System Security Plan (SSP)
Testing security controls
Documenting findings in a Security Assessment Report (SAR)
Creating a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for remediation

These artifacts are submitted to the JAB or sponsoring agency for review.

Step 5: Authorization and Continuous Monitoring

After remediation, systems are either granted a JAB P-ATO or an Agency ATO. Authorization is not the end of your compliance journey. Monthly vulnerability scans, incident reporting, and annual reassessments are required. Strong continuous monitoring is crucial to maintaining authorization.

In Summary: FedRAMP Certification Made Simple

With the right preparation and expert guidance, FedRAMP doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Identify your impact level, choose your authorization path, document thoroughly, and engage with an experienced 3PAO early.

The most important key takeaways from this article:

FedRAMP compliance is essential for serving U.S. federal clients
Most providers will pursue Moderate-level certification
Choosing the right path, JAB or Agency, depends on your partnerships and priorities
Continuous monitoring is required to maintain authorization status

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