FedRAMP & StateRAMP Authorization for SaaS
Achieve FedRAMP Moderate, FedRAMP High, or StateRAMP authorization in 12-18 months -- 3PAO-coordinated implementation, continuous monitoring, and ongoing ATO maintenance.
Government Cloud Authorization Done Right
FedRAMP and StateRAMP are the prerequisites for selling SaaS to U.S. federal and state government agencies. They are not optional, they are not fast, and they are not cheap -- a typical FedRAMP Moderate authorization spans 12-18 months and runs into the high-six-figures or low-seven-figures all-in. The decision to pursue FedRAMP is a go-to-market commitment, not a checkbox item. We help you decide whether the path makes sense for your business, and if it does, we run the program.
Our FedRAMP playbook starts with sponsorship strategy: Joint Authorization Board (JAB) Provisional Authorization is the highest bar and the most reusable, but requires NIST 800-53 control implementation across the full Moderate baseline (300+ controls) and a willing federal sponsor. Agency Authority to Operate (ATO) is faster to first contract but produces an authorization that other agencies must independently approve. Most early FedRAMP candidates pursue Agency ATO with their lead federal customer, then expand. StateRAMP follows a similar model but state-by-state, with the StateRAMP PMO handling reciprocity.
Implementation is the engineering-heavy phase: System Security Plan (SSP) authoring, control implementation across NIST 800-53 Rev 5 (with FedRAMP-specific overlays), 3PAO (third-party assessment organization) coordination, Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management, and continuous monitoring infrastructure that satisfies the monthly vulnerability scanning, annual penetration testing, and ongoing change-management evidence requirements. Our SREs build this in code -- the same Terraform modules that provision your AWS GovCloud environment also generate the configuration baseline evidence FedRAMP requires.
Why Choose Our FedRAMP & StateRAMP Authorization for SaaS
Engineering rigor, audit-ready process, and operational depth across cloud, SaaS, and software delivery
Sponsorship Strategy
JAB vs Agency ATO decision support, federal sponsor identification, and FedRAMP marketplace positioning. Most customers benefit from a hybrid: Agency ATO with lead customer, then JAB pursuit once revenue justifies.
Engineering-Led Implementation
NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls implemented in Terraform — not bolted on. AWS GovCloud architecture, FIPS 140-2 validated cryptography, SSP authored with control responsibility matrix.
3PAO Coordination
We work with FedRAMP-accredited 3PAOs (e.g., Coalfire, A-LIGN, Schellman) and manage the assessment cycle end-to-end. Pre-assessment readiness, evidence package, on-site coordination, POA&M response.
Continuous Monitoring
Monthly vulnerability scans, annual penetration testing, ongoing change-management evidence, and the ConMon submissions FedRAMP and StateRAMP PMOs require. Audit-ready year-round.
Our FedRAMP & StateRAMP Process
From sponsorship strategy to authorization in 12-18 months
Sponsorship & Scoping
Months 1-2: identify federal sponsor (or StateRAMP equivalent), choose impact level (Moderate vs High), define system boundary, gap-analyze current controls against NIST 800-53 Rev 5 baseline. Output: a SOW with explicit timeline and cost commitments.
Architecture & SSP Authoring
Months 2-5: AWS GovCloud (or Azure Government) architecture design, FIPS 140-2 cryptographic implementation, full System Security Plan with control responsibility matrix, configuration baseline documentation.
Control Implementation
Months 4-9: implement the 300+ Moderate baseline controls (or 400+ High baseline) in Terraform and supporting documentation. Continuous monitoring infrastructure deployment. Evidence collection automation.
3PAO Assessment
Months 9-13: coordinate 3PAO assessment, manage on-site interviews, respond to findings via POA&M. Typical 3-4 month assessment cycle with ongoing remediation.
Authorization & ConMon
Months 13-18: package submitted to JAB or Agency for authorization decision. Ongoing continuous monitoring (monthly scans, annual pen tests, ConMon reports) maintains authorization year-over-year.
Sponsorship & Scoping
Months 1-2: identify federal sponsor (or StateRAMP equivalent), choose impact level (Moderate vs High), define system boundary, gap-analyze current controls against NIST 800-53 Rev 5 baseline. Output: a SOW with explicit timeline and cost commitments.
Architecture & SSP Authoring
Months 2-5: AWS GovCloud (or Azure Government) architecture design, FIPS 140-2 cryptographic implementation, full System Security Plan with control responsibility matrix, configuration baseline documentation.
Control Implementation
Months 4-9: implement the 300+ Moderate baseline controls (or 400+ High baseline) in Terraform and supporting documentation. Continuous monitoring infrastructure deployment. Evidence collection automation.
3PAO Assessment
Months 9-13: coordinate 3PAO assessment, manage on-site interviews, respond to findings via POA&M. Typical 3-4 month assessment cycle with ongoing remediation.
Authorization & ConMon
Months 13-18: package submitted to JAB or Agency for authorization decision. Ongoing continuous monitoring (monthly scans, annual pen tests, ConMon reports) maintains authorization year-over-year.
DIY FedRAMP vs. Specialist FedRAMP Engagement
Why FedRAMP isn't where you DIY your first compliance program
| Feature | DIY or Generalist Compliance Vendor | Jacobian FedRAMP Engagement |
|---|---|---|
| Timeline to Authorization | 24-36 months with high failure rate; budget overruns common | 12-18 months with explicit go/no-go gates and committed timeline |
| Control Implementation | Documentation-heavy with manual evidence collection | Controls implemented in Terraform with auto-generated evidence |
| 3PAO Relationship | First-time engagement, learning the process during the assessment | Pre-existing relationships with 3-4 FedRAMP 3PAOs; we know the assessor scoring patterns |
| AWS GovCloud Setup | Often a 6-month subsidiary project that delays the assessment | GovCloud architecture is standard playbook; deployed and validated in 4-6 weeks |
| Ongoing ConMon | Manual monthly scan reports, often late or incomplete | Automated ConMon evidence pipeline; monthly submissions on time, year over year |
Timeline to Authorization
Control Implementation
3PAO Relationship
AWS GovCloud Setup
Ongoing ConMon
FedRAMP Authorization Playbook for SaaS
Read our FedRAMP playbook -- JAB vs Agency ATO sponsorship strategy, AWS GovCloud architecture, NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls, 3PAO process, ConMon obligations.
Read the whitepaperFedRAMP & StateRAMP FAQs
What CTOs and compliance leads ask before committing to FedRAMP
Related Services
Buyers of fedramp & stateramp authorization for saas typically partner with us across these adjacent disciplines
SOC 2 Compliance
SOC 2 Type II is effectively a prerequisite for FedRAMP. Operational discipline required for SOC 2 is a subset of FedRAMP Moderate controls; we sequence them to share evidence.
Compliance Program Management
FedRAMP continuous monitoring extends naturally from a multi-framework compliance program. One control library, multiple authorization outputs.
Cloud Infrastructure Management
AWS GovCloud architecture, FIPS 140-2 cryptography, and the engineering operations needed to maintain authorization continuously.
Ready for FedRAMP Authorization?
Engage our team for sponsorship strategy and a 12-18 month authorization roadmap.