FedRAMP Authorization Readiness Assessment

Evaluate readiness for FedRAMP authorization to provide cloud services to federal agencies, based on NIST 800-53 security controls

BiotechHealthcareResearch20 minutes21 questions

1. Impact Level & Scope

Have you determined your system impact level (Low, Moderate, High)?*

FIPS 199 categorization based on confidentiality, integrity, availability

Is your cloud service boundary clearly defined with data flow diagrams?*

Authorization boundary must include all components processing federal data

Do you have appropriate FedRAMP baseline controls implemented (125 Low, 325 Moderate, 421 High)?*

Control baselines from NIST 800-53 Rev 5

2. System Security Plan (SSP)

Have you documented a complete System Security Plan using FedRAMP templates?*

SSP must address all baseline controls with implementation descriptions

Are all control implementation statements detailed and specific to your system?*

Generic descriptions will be rejected; must explain actual implementation

Have you completed required FedRAMP attachments (Laws/Regs, Rules of Behavior, CIS/CRM Worksheet)?*

Mandatory SSP attachments per FedRAMP templates

Is your Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) complete and approved?*

Required for systems processing PII

3. Continuous Monitoring

Do you perform monthly vulnerability scans with an approved scanning vendor (ASV)?*

Scans must be performed by FedRAMP-approved vendors

Are all Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&Ms) tracked and updated monthly?*

Risk adjustments and remediation progress reported in monthly ConMon package

Do you submit monthly continuous monitoring reports to your authorizing official?*

ConMon deliverables due by 2nd of each month

Are security patches applied within FedRAMP timeframes (30 days high, 90 days moderate)?*

Deviation requests required if unable to meet deadlines

4. Incident Response

Do you report incidents to US-CERT within 1 hour of detection?*

FedRAMP requires immediate notification via US-CERT portal

Have you documented an Incident Response Plan following FedRAMP requirements?*

IRP must address detection, analysis, containment, eradication, recovery

Do you conduct annual incident response exercises or tabletops?*

Testing required to validate IRP effectiveness

5. Security Assessment

Have you engaged a FedRAMP-approved Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO)?*

3PAO performs independent assessment of security controls

Has your 3PAO completed a Security Assessment Report (SAR)?*

SAR documents testing methodology and control assessment results

Do you conduct annual assessments of all security controls?*

Continuous authorization requires annual reassessment

6. Authorization Process

Have you selected an authorization path (Agency, JAB, or CSP-Supplied)?*

Agency ATO fastest but non-reusable; JAB P-ATO longer but reusable

Are all FedRAMP package artifacts complete and formatted per templates?*

SSP, SAP, SAR, POA&M must use current FedRAMP templates

Do you have a sponsoring federal agency (for Agency authorization)?

Agency sponsor required for Agency ATO path

Are you prepared for the FedRAMP PMO kick-off and review process?*

PMO reviews readiness before entering authorization process

Please answer all required questions to see your results