FedRAMP readiness advisory across Low, Moderate, and High.
FedRAMP is the United States government program that standardizes how cloud services are assessed, authorized, and continuously monitored for federal use, built on NIST 800-53. Lightbridge Cloud is an independent, vendor-neutral readiness advisor that prepares organizations to pursue a FedRAMP authorization across the Low, Moderate, and High baselines.
The FedRAMP readiness path Lightbridge Cloud guides.
Baseline Selection and Scoping
Determine whether the cloud offering targets the Low, Moderate, or High baseline based on the impact level of the data it processes. Define the authorization boundary, data flows, and the inventory of components that fall inside scope.
Gap Assessment Against NIST 800-53
Map current controls to the applicable NIST SP 800-53 control baseline. Identify gaps in access control, configuration management, incident response, and the other control families before a third party ever steps in.
Documentation and SSP Development
Build the System Security Plan, policies, procedures, and supporting artifacts that describe how each control is implemented. Readiness work front-loads this evidence so the assessment phase moves without scramble.
Authorization Path Planning
Plan the route to authorization: an Agency Authorization to Operate (ATO) sponsored by a federal agency, or the program-managed path. Sequence the 3PAO assessment, the security package, and the authorization decision.
3PAO Assessment Preparation
Prepare for the independent assessment performed by an accredited Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO). Dry-run the Security Assessment Plan, validate evidence, and remediate findings before the formal Security Assessment Report.
Continuous Monitoring Design
Stand up the continuous monitoring (ConMon) program required after authorization: monthly vulnerability scanning, ongoing assessment, plan of action and milestones (POA&M) tracking, and the cadence of deliverables to the authorizing official.
FedRAMP baselines are built on NIST 800-53 impact levels.
FedRAMP defines three impact-level baselines that follow FIPS 199 categorization. The Low baseline applies where a loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability would have limited impact. The Moderate baseline is the common starting point for systems that handle sensitive but unclassified federal data. The High baseline applies where a breach could cause severe or catastrophic harm, and it carries the largest set of NIST SP 800-53 controls.
Choosing the right baseline early prevents expensive rework. Lightbridge Cloud helps categorize the data, set the authorization boundary, and select the baseline before any documentation is written. High-baseline offerings often run in dedicated government regions of the major cloud platforms; AWS GovCloud is one such environment, covered in our GovCloud guidance.
The FedRAMP authorization path runs through an agency and a 3PAO.
A cloud service offering reaches authorization through one of two routes. In the Agency Authorization path, a federal agency sponsors the offering, reviews the security package, and issues an Authorization to Operate (ATO). The program historically also ran a Joint Authorization Board (JAB) path that issued a Provisional ATO (P-ATO). FedRAMP governance continues to evolve, so verify the current authorization paths against the official source at fedramp.gov before committing a plan.
In both routes, an accredited Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) performs the independent security assessment that produces the Security Assessment Report. Lightbridge Cloud prepares organizations for that assessment and does not serve as the 3PAO on the same engagement, which preserves assessor independence.
FedRAMP continuous monitoring is where authorization is sustained.
Authorization is not the finish line. A FedRAMP-authorized cloud service provider must operate a continuous monitoring program: monthly vulnerability scanning, ongoing control assessment, deviation requests, and a maintained plan of action and milestones (POA&M), with recurring deliverables to the authorizing official. Lightbridge Cloud helps design a continuous monitoring program that is operationally sustainable, so the security posture holds between assessment cycles rather than degrading after the ATO is granted.
FedRAMP, CMMC, and CUI obligations often overlap.
FedRAMP governs cloud services consumed by federal agencies. Defense contractors face a parallel set of obligations built on the same NIST control families: the DFARS clauses and NIST SP 800-171 that protect Controlled Unclassified Information, and the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) that verifies them. Many organizations carry both kinds of requirement at once. Lightbridge Cloud reads the full obligation map so the readiness program is built once, not three times.
Certifications and compliance.
Frequently asked questions about FedRAMP.
What is FedRAMP?
FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, is the United States government framework that standardizes security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by federal agencies. Its control requirements are built on NIST Special Publication 800-53. A cloud service offering, not an advisory firm, is what receives a FedRAMP authorization. Verify current program requirements at fedramp.gov.
What are the FedRAMP Low, Moderate, and High baselines?
FedRAMP defines impact-level baselines aligned to FIPS 199 categorization. Low covers offerings where a loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability has limited impact. Moderate is the most common baseline for systems handling sensitive but unclassified data. High applies to systems where a breach could cause severe or catastrophic harm, such as those holding sensitive law enforcement, emergency services, or financial data. Each baseline maps to a defined set of NIST 800-53 controls. Confirm the current baseline control counts at fedramp.gov.
What is FedRAMP High?
FedRAMP High is the most demanding baseline, intended for cloud offerings that handle government data where a compromise would cause severe or catastrophic harm. It carries the largest set of NIST 800-53 controls of the three baselines and adds stricter requirements around encryption, personnel, physical security, and incident response. High-baseline offerings are frequently hosted in dedicated government regions of the major cloud platforms.
How does a cloud offering get FedRAMP authorized?
There are two primary routes. The Agency Authorization path: a federal agency sponsors the offering, reviews the security package, and issues an Authorization to Operate (ATO). The program-managed path historically ran through the Joint Authorization Board (JAB), which issued a Provisional ATO (P-ATO); FedRAMP governance has evolved, so verify the current authorization paths at fedramp.gov before planning. In both routes an accredited 3PAO performs the independent security assessment.
What does a 3PAO do in the FedRAMP process?
A Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) is an independent, accredited assessor that performs the security testing behind a FedRAMP package. The 3PAO writes the Security Assessment Plan, tests the implemented controls, and produces the Security Assessment Report that the authorizing official relies on for a risk-based decision. Lightbridge Cloud prepares organizations for this assessment but does not act as the 3PAO on the same engagement, preserving assessor independence.
What is FedRAMP continuous monitoring?
After authorization, a cloud service provider must operate a continuous monitoring (ConMon) program: monthly vulnerability scans, ongoing control assessment, deviation requests, and a maintained plan of action and milestones (POA&M). Authorized offerings submit recurring deliverables to the authorizing official. Lightbridge Cloud helps design the ConMon program so it is sustainable rather than a once-a-year fire drill.
Is Lightbridge Cloud FedRAMP authorized?
No. Only a cloud service offering receives a FedRAMP authorization, not an advisory firm. Lightbridge Cloud is an independent, vendor-neutral readiness and advisory partner: we help organizations assess gaps, build the security package, and prepare for the 3PAO assessment and the authorization decision. We do not sell or resell a FedRAMP-authorized product, and our recommendations are driven by fit, not vendor incentives.
How does FedRAMP relate to CMMC, DFARS, and CUI?
FedRAMP governs cloud services used by federal agencies. The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) and the DFARS clauses tied to NIST SP 800-171 govern contractors that handle Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in the defense industrial base. The frameworks share NIST control DNA but apply to different parties and data. Many organizations need both. See our guidance on the DFARS and NIST 800-171, CMMC compliance, and Controlled Unclassified Information.
This page is general guidance, not legal, audit, or accounting advice. FedRAMP requirements, baselines, and authorization paths change over time. Verify current details against official sources including fedramp.gov and NIST before making compliance decisions. AWS and AWS GovCloud are trademarks of Amazon Web Services, Inc.; Lightbridge Cloud is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or a partner program member of Amazon Web Services or any other vendor named on this page.
Get a FedRAMP readiness assessment.
We scope the baseline, map your gaps against NIST 800-53, and deliver a readiness roadmap that sequences documentation, the 3PAO assessment, and continuous monitoring.