FedRAMP / ATO Consulting
FedRAMP Authorization & Government Cloud Consulting
Selling to the federal government means meeting rigorous security standards. We take the complexity out of FedRAMP, CMMC, and DoD IL4/IL5 compliance so you can win government contracts faster, protect sensitive data, and scale with confidence on AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, Google Cloud, or Oracle Cloud.
How we get you authorized
A battle-tested path from first assessment to full Authority to Operate, with clear milestones your leadership can track.
Compliance gap assessment
We audit your cloud environment and map every gap against the controls you need to satisfy.
- Architecture and data-flow review
- Data classification mapping for CUI, PII, and PHI
- Gap analysis against NIST 800-53 and FedRAMP baselines
- Executive roadmap with prioritized remediation
Secure cloud architecture
We design and deploy a government-ready foundation with Zero Trust built in from day one.
- Compliant landing zones and hub-and-spoke networking
- Zero Trust access controls and traffic inspection
- Encrypted connectivity and identity governance
- Security logging, monitoring, and alerting
Build, document & harden
We build production infrastructure and prepare every artifact your 3PAO assessor needs.
- Tested, version-controlled infrastructure as code
- Automated scanning and configuration drift detection
- System Security Plan (SSP) and control evidence
- Remediation of identified gaps before audit
Audit support & monitoring
We stand beside you through the 3PAO assessment and keep your authorization healthy.
- 3PAO audit preparation and remediation support
- 24/7 infrastructure monitoring and incident triage
- POA&M management and continuous monitoring
- Quarterly posture reports for leadership
Pick the right FedRAMP baseline
Your FIPS 199 categorization across confidentiality, integrity, and availability sets the baseline. The overall rating is the high-water mark of the three.
Low
Around 156 NIST 800-53 controls. For low-impact systems and the FedRAMP Tailored Li-SaaS path.
Moderate
Around 323 controls. The right starting point for most commercial SaaS selling to federal agencies.
High
Around 410 controls. For systems handling the most sensitive unclassified data, including law enforcement and health.
Why organizations choose ACS
One accountable team from gap assessment through continuous monitoring.
Single accountable partner
One team owns the entire process, from gap assessment through ConMon. No finger-pointing between vendors.
Cloud-agnostic expertise
AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, Google Cloud, or multi-cloud. We architect compliant environments wherever your workloads run.
Audit-ready documentation
SSPs, control evidence, and architecture diagrams. Every deliverable your 3PAO needs, so audit day is calm.
Speed to authorization
A structured methodology and reusable modules cut months off the typical ATO timeline and your path to government revenue.
Frequently asked questions about FedRAMP
What is the difference between FedRAMP Low, Moderate, and High?
Baselines are tailored subsets of NIST 800-53 controls: Low is around 156, Moderate around 323, and High around 410. The right baseline comes from your FIPS 199 categorization. For most commercial SaaS selling to federal agencies, Moderate is the starting point.
How long does FedRAMP authorization take?
It varies with baseline and readiness. Low typically runs 6 to 10 months, Moderate 9 to 15 months, and High 12 to 18 months or more from kickoff. A readiness assessment finds gaps early so you compress the timeline rather than extend it.
What is a 3PAO and do I need one?
A Third-Party Assessment Organization independently tests your service against the FedRAMP baseline, and yes, it is required. We prepare you for and support the 3PAO assessment, but we are not the 3PAO ourselves. That independence is intentional.
Does ACS grant the ATO?
No. The Authority to Operate is granted by a sponsoring federal agency. We guide you through readiness, documentation, hardening, and 3PAO support, and the agency issues the ATO.
What does continuous monitoring involve?
ConMon is the ongoing program that maintains your authorization: monthly vulnerability scanning, POA&M management, annual assessment, significant-change processes, and incident reporting. Our monitoring service handles the operational side so you stay audit-ready.
Do you support StateRAMP and CMMC as well?
Yes. StateRAMP closely mirrors FedRAMP Moderate, and we support it directly. We also support CMMC 2.0 Level 2, which aligns to the 110 requirements in NIST 800-171, including control mapping, SSP, and pre-assessment readiness.
What does a FedRAMP engagement with ACS include?
A free readiness assessment, gap analysis, secure cloud architecture review, SSP and supporting documentation, control hardening, 3PAO audit support, ATO package preparation, and continuous monitoring after authorization.
Ready to pursue government contracts with confidence?
Whether you need FedRAMP Moderate, FedRAMP High, CMMC Level 2, or DoD IL4/IL5, we meet you where you are and get you authorized. Free 30-minute strategy call, no obligation.
Book a Free Readiness AssessmentSee also our Government IT services · remote-first · nationwide
How we work with you
Not a ticket queue. You get real people who own your account.
Your own pod (larger clients)
A dedicated full-time team that knows your whole environment, not a rotating queue.
A named account manager
Everyone else gets one Technical Account Manager as a direct point of contact who owns your account.
Remote-first response
Most support, monitoring, and projects are handled remotely, so you are not waiting on a truck roll.
Onsite when it matters
Our own team comes to you for hands-on work and projects as needed, billed per project.