FedRAMP Advisory Services
Navigate Your FedRAMP Journey with Expert Advisory Support
From initial planning through maintaining authorization, databrackets provides strategic guidance to help Cloud Service Providers achieve and sustain FedRAMP compliance. As both an A2LA-accredited 3PAO and trusted advisor, we bring unique dual expertise to your authorization journey—understanding both what assessors require and how to implement controls effectively in cloud environments.
Schedule a Meeting to discuss the best options for your organization & receive your customized quote.
Our FedRAMP Advisory Services
1. Gap Analysis
Before investing significant resources in FedRAMP authorization, understand where you stand. Our gap analysis provides a clear roadmap based on real-world assessment experience.
What We Deliver: Comprehensive evaluation of your current security posture against FedRAMP baseline requirements (Low, Moderate, or High impact levels). We examine critical security controls to identify implementation gaps, verify your system authorization boundary, and validate data flows throughout your cloud environment. You’ll receive a prioritized remediation roadmap with realistic timeline and resource estimates, along with education on FedRAMP requirements, stakeholder roles, and the authorization process informed by our direct 3PAO experience.
2. System Security Plan (SSP) Development
The SSP is the foundation of your FedRAMP authorization package. We help you create comprehensive documentation that withstands rigorous 3PAO scrutiny because we understand exactly what assessors look for.
What We Deliver: Complete SSP development aligned to NIST SP 800-53 security control baselines with FedRAMP-specific requirements. We establish a clearly delineated authorization boundary, document all system interconnections and dependencies, identify cryptographic implementations and validate FIPS 140 compliance, and thoroughly document your security control implementations. We also support creation of all required SSP attachments including network diagrams, data flow diagrams, ports/protocols/services tables, and the FedRAMP Integrated Inventory Workbook.
3. Policy & Plan Development
FedRAMP requires comprehensive policies and operational plans across all NIST SP 800-53 control families. We develop implementation-ready policies informed by industry best practices and designed to withstand 3PAO assessment scrutiny.
Core Policy & Plan Development: Configuration Management Plan that addresses baseline configurations, change control processes, and configuration monitoring. Incident Response Plan covering incident handling procedures, reporting requirements, and stakeholder communications aligned to FedRAMP incident reporting timelines. Contingency Plan including backup procedures, disaster recovery processes, business continuity provisions, and annual testing requirements. Supply Chain Risk Management Plan addressing vendor dependencies, software/service acquisition, and third-party risk management. Security policies for all applicable NIST SP 800-53 control families customized to your cloud environment and service model.
4. Readiness Assessment Preparation
The FedRAMP Readiness Assessment allows you to demonstrate technical readiness and achieve FedRAMP Ready designation on the FedRAMP Marketplace. This optional but highly recommended step signals to federal agencies that you’ve done the heavy lifting and are prepared for full authorization.
What We Deliver: Preparation support for the technical validation a 3PAO will perform during your Readiness Assessment. We help you validate implementation of the six federal mandates (FIPS 140-2 encryption, CAC/PIV authentication support, Federal Records Management compliance, DNSSEC implementation, multi-tenancy separation measures, and secure software development lifecycle). We assist with authorization boundary definition, data flow documentation, and technical control implementation verification. You’ll understand what evidence assessors need and how to demonstrate operational maturity across critical control areas.
5. Continuous Monitoring Advisory
After achieving your initial authorization, maintaining compliance requires robust continuous monitoring. We help you establish sustainable FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring (ConMon) processes that satisfy FedRAMP requirements without overwhelming your team.
A ConMon is the mandatory, ongoing process for Cloud Service Providers (CSPs) to maintain security authorization (ATO) after initial certification. Based on NIST SP 800-137, it ensures security controls remain effective through monthly vulnerability scans, annual 3PAO assessments, incident response, and Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management.
What We Deliver: ConMon strategy development and implementation guidance covering monthly vulnerability scanning, POA&M management processes, significant change request procedures, and annual assessment preparation. We help you establish processes for monthly deliverables to your Authorizing Official, implement collaborative ConMon for multi-agency customers, manage deviation requests and operational requirements, and develop schedules that ensure all controls are assessed within the required three-year period.
Schedule a Meeting to discuss the best options for your organization & receive your customized quote.
Why choose databrackets FedRAMP advisory services
Dual Expertise: As both an A2LA-accredited 3PAO and advisory firm, we understand FedRAMP from both sides—what agencies and assessors require, and how CSPs can implement controls practically and efficiently.
Assessment-Informed Guidance: Our advisory services are directly informed by our assessment experience. We know the common pitfalls that lead to findings.
Practical Implementation Focus: We don’t just tell you what FedRAMP requires—we help you understand how to implement it in your specific cloud environment, whether you’re IaaS, PaaS, or SaaS.
Efficiency-Driven Approach: Our goal is to help you achieve authorization efficiently, avoiding unnecessary rework and delays that inflate timelines and costs.
Risk-Based Prioritization: We help you focus your efforts where they’ll have the greatest impact on your security posture and authorization timeline.
Schedule a Meeting to discuss the best options for your organization & receive your customized quote.
Explore our comprehensive blogs on FedRAMP
Ready to Begin Your FedRAMP Journey?
Whether you’re just starting to explore FedRAMP or need support maintaining your existing authorization, databrackets brings the expertise and practical guidance to help you succeed. As an A2LA-accredited 3PAO with deep advisory experience, we understand both what’s required and how to implement it effectively.
Schedule a Meeting to discuss how our FedRAMP advisory services can support your cloud authorization goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is FedRAMP?
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program is a federal program that provides a systematic approach to security assessment FedRAMP, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. FedRAMP establishes security requirements based on NIST SP 800-53 and provides a framework for federal agencies to securely adopt cloud services.
How did FedRAMP originate?
FedRAMP resulted from the federal government’s “Cloud First” policy and the Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) of 2014. While FISMA establishes baseline requirements for federal information systems through NIST guidance, FedRAMP specifically tailors these requirements for cloud computing. The FedRAMP Authorization Act of 2023 codified the program as the authoritative standard for security assessment and authorization of cloud computing products and services that process unclassified federal information.
What’s included in an initial assessment?
An initial FedRAMP assessment includes a comprehensive security control assessment against the applicable NIST SP 800-53 baseline (Low, Moderate, or High), validation of your compliance and vulnerability scanning tool implementation and reporting, and a FedRAMP penetration test. The 3PAO documents all findings in a Security Assessment Report (SAR), and you’ll work with them to develop your Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) for any identified deficiencies.
What does continuous monitoring require?
FedRAMP’s Continuous Monitoring program includes a requirement for annual assessments FedRAMP. You must provide monthly deliverables to your Authorizing Official including vulnerability scan results and POA&M updates. A 3PAO conducts an annual assessment of a subset of security controls based on the FedRAMP Annual Assessment Control Selection Worksheet. FedRAMP recommends each control is tested within a three-year period FedRAMP. You’re also required to submit significant change requests when making changes that affect the security posture of your system.
What is a System Security Plan (SSP)?
The SSP is the cornerstone document of your FedRAMP authorization package. It describes your cloud service offering’s authorization boundary, documents how each required NIST SP 800-53 security control is implemented in your environment, includes required attachments like network diagrams and data flow diagrams, and serves as the primary reference for both assessors and authorizing officials throughout your authorization and continuous monitoring lifecycle.
What’s involved in policy development for FedRAMP?
Each NIST SP 800-53 control family requires organizational policies that describe how controls are satisfied. FedRAMP requires specific operational plans including a Configuration Management Plan, Incident Response Plan, Contingency Plan (with annual testing), and Supply Chain Risk Management Plan. These policies must be more than generic templates—they need to reflect your actual operational processes and be detailed enough to guide implementation while meeting 3PAO assessment standards.
What are the FedRAMP impact levels?
FedRAMP defines three impact levels based on FIPS 199 categorization: Low (LI-SaaS specifically for low-risk Software-as-a-Service), Moderate (the most common baseline, covering the majority of federal cloud services), and High (for the most sensitive unclassified federal data). Each level has an increasing number of required security controls. The impact level is determined by the confidentiality, integrity, and availability requirements of the federal data your system will process.
What’s the difference between Agency ATO and JAB authorization?
An Agency Authority to Operate (ATO) is issued by a specific federal agency for their use of your cloud service. A JAB (Joint Authorization Board) Provisional ATO was historically issued by the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board for government-wide use. However, in 2024, FedRAMP discontinued the JAB Authorization option, leaving just the Agency Authorization path. All FedRAMP authorizations are now pursued through agency partnerships.