FedRAMP Authorization, Start to Finish
Expert-led FedRAMP authorization - from gap analysis to ATO - so you can sell to the federal government with confidence.
Why FedRAMP Matters for Cloud Service Providers
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is the mandatory security framework for cloud products sold to U.S. federal agencies. Without an Authorization to Operate (ATO), your cloud offering cannot legally be deployed in a federal environment - shutting you out of a market worth hundreds of billions of dollars annually.
The program is built on NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, the gold standard for federal information security controls. Depending on the impact level - Low, Moderate, or High - you may be required to implement and evidence anywhere from 125 to 420+ security controls across 20 control families. The assessment must be conducted by an accredited Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO), and the resulting authorization package must be accepted by a sponsoring federal agency or the Joint Authorization Board (JAB).
Organizations that underestimate FedRAMP often spend 18-24 months in remediation cycles because they failed to build compliance into their architecture from the start. Dark Rock engages early - mapping your existing controls, identifying architecture gaps, and building a realistic roadmap so your ATO timeline is measured in months, not years.
Our Approach
Assess
Gap analysis against NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls for your target impact level (Low, Moderate, or High). We review your existing System Security Plan documentation, architecture diagrams, and evidence artifacts - producing a prioritized finding register with remediation effort estimates.
Remediate
Hands-on remediation support for control gaps: configuring SIEM/log aggregation, implementing continuous monitoring tooling, hardening OS and container images against CIS benchmarks, and establishing required policies - all aligned to FedRAMP-specific implementation guidance.
Implement
Build and finalize your complete authorization package: System Security Plan (SSP), Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA), Incident Response Plan, Configuration Management Plan, and Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M). We coordinate directly with your 3PAO to streamline the assessment.
Certify
Navigate the JAB or agency authorization path. We prepare your leadership for the authorization boundary review, manage 3PAO communication, track finding remediation through the assessment, and guide you through the ATO letter - then establish your continuous monitoring cadence to maintain it.
What You Get
- FedRAMP readiness gap analysis report with control-by-control findings
- System Security Plan (SSP) - complete NIST 800-53 Rev 5 control implementation statements
- Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M) with tracked remediation status
- Continuous Monitoring Strategy and monthly ConMon reporting templates
- Incident Response Plan tailored to federal reporting requirements (US-CERT)
- Configuration Management Plan and Change Control documentation
- Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) and System of Records Notice (SORN) guidance
- 3PAO coordination support and evidence package preparation
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NIST 800-53 controls mapped, tested, and documented for your FedRAMP High ATO
