What is FedRAMP Low Authorization: A Comprehensive Guide
Federal agencies increasingly rely on cloud services to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. However, this digital transformation comes with significant security challenges. The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) was established to address these challenges by providing a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by the US government.
FedRAMP Low authorization represents the entry-level security baseline within the FedRAMP framework. While it may be the lowest tier in the authorization hierarchy, it establishes crucial security controls necessary for protecting federal information and systems with low-risk impact levels. Understanding FedRAMP Low authorization is essential for cloud service providers (CSPs) looking to enter the federal marketplace, as well as for agencies seeking appropriate security measures for their less sensitive data and systems.
In this article, we will explore what FedRAMP Low authorization entails, how it compares to other authorization levels, the benefits it offers organizations, and why compliance with FedRAMP standards is critical in today’s federal IT ecosystem. Whether you’re a CSP preparing for authorization, a federal agency evaluating cloud solutions, or a private sector business looking for a higher level of security in the data you share and store, this article will provide valuable insights into the fundamental security baseline that is FedRAMP Low.
FedRAMP Overview
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a government-wide program that provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services. Established in 2011, FedRAMP was created to support the federal government’s “Cloud First” policy, which aimed to accelerate the adoption of secure cloud solutions across federal agencies.
At its core, FedRAMP is a risk management framework designed to ensure that cloud services used by federal agencies meet stringent security requirements. The program establishes a set of standardized security controls based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 800-53 (NIST 800-53), tailored specifically for cloud environments.
Why FedRAMP Was Created
Before FedRAMP, federal agencies independently assessed and authorized cloud services, resulting in duplicative efforts, inconsistent security evaluations, and inefficient use of resources. This fragmented approach created several challenges for the government ecosystem. Inconsistent security was a major concern, as different agencies applied varying security standards, leading to uneven protection of federal information across departments. Redundant assessments plagued the system as well, with cloud service providers forced to undergo multiple similar security assessments for different agencies, wasting valuable time and resources for both government and vendors.
The pre-FedRAMP landscape also suffered from a lack of transparency, with limited visibility into the security posture of cloud services across the federal government. This opacity made it difficult to establish government-wide security standards or share information about potential vulnerabilities. Finally, inefficient procurement processes were commonplace, as lengthy, agency-specific authorization processes slowed cloud adoption and innovation, creating barriers to modernization efforts.
FedRAMP was established to address these challenges by creating a unified, government-wide approach to cloud security assessment and authorization. By implementing a “do once, use many times” framework, FedRAMP promotes efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and consistent security across federal cloud deployments.
Why FedRAMP is Critical
FedRAMP plays a crucial role in the federal IT ecosystem for several reasons. The program establishes standardized security requirements that all cloud services must meet, ensuring consistent protection of federal information regardless of which agency uses the service. This standardization creates a common security language across government and industry, facilitating better communication and understanding of risk.
The program provides a structured approach to evaluating and managing risks associated with cloud adoption, helping agencies make informed decisions about cloud services based on their specific risk tolerance and mission requirements. This risk management aspect helps government leaders prioritize security investments and focus on the most critical security concerns.
By eliminating duplicative security assessments, FedRAMP reduces costs for both government agencies and cloud service providers. A cloud service provider can undergo the assessment process once and then make the resulting security package available to multiple agencies, saving significant time and resources for all parties involved. For cloud service providers, FedRAMP authorization opens the door to the federal marketplace, providing access to a substantial customer base worth billions in annual IT spending.
Perhaps most importantly, FedRAMP authorization signals to federal agencies that a cloud service has undergone rigorous security assessment and meets federal security requirements, creating trust and confidence in cloud solutions. This trust component is essential for encouraging agencies to adopt innovative cloud technologies while maintaining appropriate security controls.
Key Takeaways
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Entry Point to Federal Market
FedRAMP Low authorization serves as an accessible entry point for cloud service providers to sell to federal agencies, requiring fewer resources than higher authorization levels while still opening the door to billions in government spending.
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Baseline Security Foundation
With 125 security controls across 17 families, FedRAMP Low establishes a meaningful security baseline that exceeds typical commercial practices and provides appropriate protection for federal information with low-risk impact levels.
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Graduated Compliance Approach
Organizations can start with Low authorization and progressively move to Moderate or High as their federal business grows, spreading investment over time and building on existing documentation and control implementations.
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Security Posture Enhancement
The FedRAMP process fosters organization-wide security improvements through structured controls, third-party validation, formal documentation, and continuous monitoring that benefit all customers, not just federal clients.
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Cross-Framework Compatibility
Many FedRAMP controls align with other frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and CMMC, allowing organizations to leverage their FedRAMP investment across multiple compliance initiatives with reduced duplication of effort.
Who Must Comply with FedRAMP?
FedRAMP applies to various stakeholders in the federal cloud ecosystem. All federal agencies must use FedRAMP-authorized cloud services for systems that process, store, or transmit federal information. This requirement is mandated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-11-11 and reinforced by subsequent policies. Agencies are responsible for ensuring that their cloud deployments comply with FedRAMP requirements and for maintaining ongoing security oversight.
Any cloud service provider that wants to offer services to federal agencies must obtain FedRAMP authorization. This includes Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) providers across all deployment models (public, private, community, and hybrid clouds). These providers must implement required security controls, undergo security assessment, and maintain continuous monitoring to retain their authorized status.
Certified Third-Party Assessment Organizations (C3PAOs) are also key stakeholders in the FedRAMP ecosystem. These organizations are accredited to perform independent security assessments of cloud services seeking FedRAMP authorization, as well as other certifications like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) for defense contractors serving the Department of Defense (DoD). They play a crucial role in validating the implementation and effectiveness of security controls.
While FedRAMP is mandatory only for federal agencies, state and local governments (colloquially referred to as StateRAMP), as well as private sector businesses (FedRAMP for private sector businesses is appealing to defense contractors looking to demonstrate CMMC compliance but also banks, telecommunications companies, and other businesses that handle confidential information), often look to FedRAMP as a benchmark for cloud security. This broader influence makes FedRAMP relevant beyond its explicit regulatory scope, effectively raising the security bar for cloud services across various sectors.
FedRAMP’s Three Authorization Levels
FedRAMP categorizes systems and data based on the potential impact that could result from a security breach, following the FIPS 199 guidelines. There are three distinct authorization levels within the framework.
FedRAMP Low is appropriate for systems where the loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability would have a limited adverse effect on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. These systems typically contain non-sensitive information and present minimal risk if compromised.
FedRAMP Moderate authorization is suitable for systems where the loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability would have a serious adverse effect on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. This is the most commonly used baseline, covering the majority of federal systems. Most controlled unclassified information (CUI) falls into this category.
FedRAMP High authorization is required for systems where the loss of confidentiality, integrity, and availability would have a severe or catastrophic adverse effect on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. This level is typically used for systems handling sensitive law enforcement data, emergency services, financial data, healthcare information, and other high-impact systems where a security breach could significantly harm national security, economic stability, or public health and safety.
Each level corresponds to an increasingly comprehensive set of security controls that must be implemented and assessed, with Low requiring 125 controls, Moderate requiring 325 controls, and High requiring 421 controls. The control requirements become progressively more stringent as the impact level increases, reflecting the greater protection needed for more sensitive information.
FedRAMP Non-Compliance Risks
Failure to adhere to FedRAMP requirements carries significant risks and consequences for both federal agencies and cloud service providers. Security vulnerabilities present the most immediate concern, as non-compliance may leave federal systems and data exposed to threats, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access, and other security incidents that could compromise government operations or citizen information.
Regulatory violations pose another serious risk, as federal agencies that use non-authorized cloud services may violate federal policies and regulations, potentially facing administrative consequences, budget impacts, or increased oversight. Agency leaders may be called to account for security failures, particularly if they result from non-compliance with established requirements.
For cloud service providers, market exclusion represents a substantial business risk. Providers without FedRAMP authorization are effectively locked out of the federal market, losing access to billions of dollars in government IT spending. As more agencies move to cloud solutions, this exclusion becomes increasingly costly for vendors seeking government clients.
Both agencies and providers face reputational damage in the event of security incidents resulting from inadequate security controls. For agencies, security failures can erode public trust in government institutions and their ability to protect sensitive information. For cloud providers, such incidents can damage their reputation in both public and private sectors, potentially affecting their broader market position.
Operational disruptions may occur when security incidents affect system availability or integrity. These disruptions can impede federal operations, affecting service delivery to citizens and other stakeholders who depend on government systems. In critical domains like emergency services or healthcare, such disruptions could have life-or-death implications.
Financial losses often accompany security breaches, including remediation costs, legal expenses, and potential penalties. Agencies may face budget impacts from emergency response measures, while cloud providers may incur costs from breach notification, customer compensation, and security improvements. The full financial impact often extends well beyond the immediate response period.
The stakes are particularly high given the sensitive nature of federal information and the critical services provided by government agencies. FedRAMP plays a vital role in mitigating these risks by ensuring that cloud services meet federal security requirements and undergo regular assessment to maintain their security posture.
Overview of FedRAMP Low Authorization
FedRAMP Low authorization is the entry-level security baseline within the FedRAMP framework, designed for cloud systems and services that process, store, or transmit federal information with a low security impact level. This authorization level implements security controls to protect information and systems where the consequences of a security breach would have a limited adverse effect on government operations, government assets, or individuals.
According to FIPS 199, a low-impact system is one in which the loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability would have a limited adverse effect on organizational operations, assets, or individuals. “Limited adverse effect” means that a security breach might cause some degradation in mission capability, minor financial loss, or minor harm to individuals, but would not significantly impair the organization’s ability to perform its primary functions.
FedRAMP Low authorization requires cloud service providers to implement and document 125 security controls across 17 control families, as defined in NIST Special Publication 800-53. These controls address various aspects of security, including access control, incident response, system and information integrity, and contingency planning. While fewer than the controls required for higher impact levels, these 125 controls establish a meaningful security baseline that exceeds what many commercial cloud services provide by default.
To achieve FedRAMP Low authorization, a cloud service provider must undergo a rigorous assessment process, including a security assessment by a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO), and receive an Authority to Operate (ATO) from a federal agency or a Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO) from the FedRAMP Joint Authorization Board (JAB). This process ensures that the cloud service has implemented the required controls effectively and maintains appropriate security practices.
How FedRAMP Low Differs from FedRAMP Moderate and FedRAMP High
The primary differences between FedRAMP Low, Moderate, and High lie in the number and rigor of security controls required at each level, reflecting the different risk tolerances appropriate for systems with varying sensitivity and criticality.
In terms of security controls, FedRAMP Low requires implementation of 125 controls, while FedRAMP Moderate requires 325 controls, and FedRAMP High requires 421 controls. In 2023, FedRAMP introduced a Moderate-High baseline with 425 controls as a transition step between Moderate and High. This progressive increase in control requirements reflects the additional protection needed for more sensitive information and more critical systems.
The rigor and implementation requirements for controls also vary significantly across authorization levels. FedRAMP Low controls typically require less stringent implementation compared to their Moderate and High counterparts. For authentication, Low may require single-factor authentication, while Moderate typically requires multi-factor authentication, and High might require stronger cryptographic requirements and more frequent credential rotation.
Audit logging requirements also become progressively more comprehensive as the impact level increases. Low has basic requirements for audit logs for system events, while Moderate and High have more extensive requirements for log collection, analysis, retention, and protection. Higher levels require more sophisticated monitoring capabilities and more frequent review of audit records.
Contingency planning represents another area of significant difference. Low has minimal disaster recovery requirements, focusing on basic backup and restoration capabilities. Moderate and High require more robust backup, recovery, and continuity measures, including regular testing of recovery procedures and more stringent recovery time objectives. Higher levels also require more comprehensive alternate processing site provisions.
Configuration management practices become more rigorous at higher impact levels as well. Low has basic configuration management controls focused on establishing baseline configurations and controlling changes. Moderate and High require more rigorous change management, more frequent configuration monitoring, and more detailed baseline configuration documentation. Higher levels also impose stricter limitations on software usage and configuration changes.
The documentation and assessment rigor also varies by impact level. FedRAMP Low requires less extensive documentation compared to Moderate and High, with a more streamlined security package. The security assessment for Low involves less comprehensive penetration testing and vulnerability assessment compared to Moderate and High, focusing on basic security functionality rather than in-depth security analysis. Continuous monitoring requirements are less frequent for Low (annual assessments) compared to Moderate and High (monthly scanning and reporting), reflecting the lower risk associated with Low-impact systems.
Each authorization level is appropriate for different types of systems and data based on sensitivity and criticality. FedRAMP Low is suitable for systems containing public-facing information, non-sensitive data, and systems with limited impact if compromised. Examples include public websites, training systems, and collaboration tools not handling sensitive information. These systems typically do not contain personally identifiable information (PII) or other protected data that would require additional safeguards.
FedRAMP Moderate is appropriate for most federal systems containing controlled unclassified information (CUI) that is not designated as high impact. Examples include email systems, financial planning systems, and project management applications. The majority of federal systems fall into this category, as they handle information that requires protection but would not cause severe harm if compromised.
FedRAMP High is reserved for systems with the most sensitive unclassified data, such as law enforcement data, emergency services systems, financial systems, health systems, and other high-impact systems where a breach could severely impact government operations or public safety. These systems often support critical functions or contain information that could cause significant harm to individuals or national interests if compromised.
It’s important to note that while FedRAMP Low has fewer requirements than Moderate and High, it still establishes a significant security baseline that exceeds what many commercial cloud services provide by default. The baseline represents the minimum security controls necessary to protect federal information with a low impact level.
Benefits of FedRAMP Low Authorization
One of the primary benefits of achieving FedRAMP Low authorization is the access it provides to the federal marketplace. FedRAMP Low serves as an entry-level certification that allows cloud service providers to begin selling to federal agencies, opening the door to a market worth billions of dollars annually in cloud spending. This market continues to grow as agencies accelerate their digital transformation efforts and increase cloud adoption across various functions.
Having FedRAMP Low authorization gives cloud service providers a competitive advantage when approaching federal customers. The authorization differentiates a provider from competitors without authorization, potentially influencing procurement decisions in their favor. Many federal agencies prioritize FedRAMP-authorized services in their procurement evaluations, even when evaluating solutions for low-impact systems.
Many federal contracts explicitly require FedRAMP-authorized cloud services, making authorization essential for bidding on these opportunities. Without authorization, providers are excluded from these contracts regardless of the technical merits of their solutions. This requirement appears in various procurement vehicles, from agency-specific contracts to government-wide acquisition contracts.
Even for providers not directly contracting with federal agencies, FedRAMP authorization can create opportunities to serve as subcontractors to prime contractors working on federal projects. System integrators and prime contractors often need authorized cloud components as part of their broader solutions, creating partnership opportunities for authorized providers.
Once a cloud service is authorized, it can be used by multiple federal agencies without requiring repeated security assessments, expanding market reach through the “do once, use many times” principle of FedRAMP. This multi-tenant benefit allows providers to leverage their initial investment in FedRAMP across numerous federal customers, creating economies of scale that enhance the return on their compliance investment.
FedRAMP Low Authorization for Security Posture Improvement
Beyond market access, FedRAMP Low authorization significantly enhances an organization’s security posture through various mechanisms. The process of achieving authorization forces organizations to implement a comprehensive security program based on NIST standards, addressing controls that might otherwise be overlooked in a less structured approach to security. This structured framework ensures that security is addressed systematically rather than ad hoc.
The FedRAMP process fosters a risk-based approach to security, encouraging organizations to identify, assess, and mitigate security risks systematically. This risk management culture often extends beyond the specific cloud service being authorized, influencing security practices across the organization. Security becomes an ongoing process of risk evaluation and mitigation rather than a one-time compliance exercise.
The independent assessment by a 3PAO provides objective validation of security controls, potentially identifying vulnerabilities that internal teams might miss due to familiarity blindness or resource constraints. This third-party perspective often uncovers security gaps that would otherwise remain unaddressed, strengthening the overall security posture. The assessment also provides a valuable learning opportunity for internal security teams.
FedRAMP requires thorough documentation of security policies, procedures, and configurations, leading to more formalized and consistent security practices. This documentation discipline often improves security operations by ensuring that security practices are repeatable, traceable, and less dependent on individual knowledge. Well-documented security practices also facilitate training, auditing, and continuous improvement.
The authorization process raises security awareness across the organization, from leadership to development and operations teams. As various stakeholders engage with the security requirements and assessment process, security becomes more integrated into organizational culture and decision-making. This heightened awareness often leads to improved security practices even in areas not directly covered by the FedRAMP assessment.
FedRAMP Low Authorization for Improved Cost and Time Efficiency
FedRAMP Low offers several efficiency benefits compared to higher authorization levels, making it an attractive starting point for organizations new to the federal market. With fewer required controls (125 versus 325 for Moderate), FedRAMP Low typically requires less investment in security technology, personnel, and consulting services. This reduced scope makes the initial compliance effort more manageable for organizations with limited security resources or experience with federal requirements.
The authorization process for FedRAMP Low generally takes less time to complete compared to Moderate or High, allowing faster time-to-market for federal sales. While timelines vary based on organizational readiness and other factors, Low authorization can often be achieved in significantly less time than higher impact levels, enabling providers to enter the federal market more quickly and begin generating return on their compliance investment.
The security assessment for Low is less extensive, resulting in lower assessment costs and fewer resources needed for remediation of identified issues. The narrower scope of testing and evaluation translates to lower 3PAO fees and less internal effort to prepare for and respond to the assessment. This reduced assessment burden makes FedRAMP Low more accessible to smaller providers or those with limited compliance experience.
Organizations can start with Low authorization and later upgrade to Moderate or High as their federal business grows, spreading the investment over time rather than requiring a large upfront expenditure. This graduated approach allows providers to align their compliance investments with their federal revenue stream, making the economics of FedRAMP more favorable, especially for smaller companies or those new to the federal market.
The security documentation developed for FedRAMP Low can serve as a foundation for other compliance frameworks, reducing duplicate efforts across multiple compliance initiatives. Many FedRAMP controls align with requirements in frameworks like SOC 2, ISO 27001, and CMMC, allowing organizations to leverage their FedRAMP work when pursuing these other certifications. This documentation reuse can significantly reduce the total compliance burden across multiple frameworks.
FedRAMP Low Authorization for Scalability and Future Growth
FedRAMP Low authorization provides a foundation for growth in several ways, positioning organizations for expansion in both federal and commercial markets. Organizations that achieve FedRAMP Low can leverage their experience, documentation, and control implementations as a stepping stone toward Moderate or High authorization, enabling access to a broader range of federal opportunities. The knowledge, processes, and documentation developed for Low can be extended and enhanced to meet the more stringent requirements of higher impact levels.
The structured approach to security through FedRAMP allows organizations to mature their security programs incrementally, building capability and expertise over time. As organizations implement the required controls and undergo the assessment process, their security teams develop valuable skills and experience that support ongoing security improvement. This incremental maturity approach is often more sustainable than attempting to implement a comprehensive security program all at once.
Many FedRAMP controls align with other compliance frameworks such as SOC 2, ISO 27001, and CMMC, making it easier to achieve multiple certifications and expand into various markets with similar security requirements. This cross-framework alignment allows organizations to leverage their FedRAMP investment across multiple compliance initiatives, reducing the marginal cost of each additional certification and opening doors to various market segments with different compliance requirements.
The security improvements made during the FedRAMP process can become a competitive advantage in commercial markets as well, where security-conscious clients increasingly seek providers with demonstrated security capabilities. Even clients without explicit FedRAMP requirements often value the security rigor associated with government-approved cloud services, particularly in regulated industries like healthcare, financial services, and critical infrastructure. FedRAMP authorization can serve as a differentiator in these security-sensitive commercial markets.
The continuous monitoring aspect of FedRAMP encourages ongoing security improvement, helping organizations stay ahead of evolving threats and security best practices. Rather than treating security as a point-in-time compliance exercise, FedRAMP establishes a cycle of ongoing assessment, remediation, and improvement that supports long-term security maturity. This continuous improvement mindset becomes embedded in organizational culture, supporting sustainable security growth over time.
FedRAMP Low Authorization for Stronger Trust and Credibility
FedRAMP Low authorization enhances an organization’s reputation in several important ways, creating trust with both federal and commercial customers. Authorization represents an implicit endorsement of an organization’s security practices by the federal government, which is widely recognized as having stringent security requirements. This government endorsement carries significant weight with security-conscious customers across various sectors, creating a halo effect that extends beyond federal sales.
Federal and non-federal customers alike gain confidence knowing that a cloud service has undergone independent security assessment and meets government standards. The involvement of accredited 3PAOs in the assessment process adds credibility to security claims, as these assessors must maintain their own qualifications and follow standardized assessment methodologies. This independent validation provides assurance that security controls are not just documented but effectively implemented.
The FedRAMP process encourages transparency about security practices, controls, and risk management, which builds trust with customers and partners. The standardized documentation and reporting requirements create a common language for discussing security, facilitating clearer communication about security capabilities and limitations. This transparency helps customers make informed decisions about using the cloud service based on their specific security requirements and risk tolerance.
Achieving and maintaining FedRAMP authorization demonstrates an organization’s commitment to security, potentially differentiating it from competitors who have not made this investment. The ongoing effort required for continuous monitoring and annual reassessment shows that security is not just a one-time project but an ongoing priority for the organization. This demonstrated commitment resonates with customers who view security as a critical selection criterion for cloud services.
Customers benefit from reduced risk when using FedRAMP-authorized services, as the authorization process helps identify and address security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. The standardized controls address common security concerns, while the assessment process helps uncover potential weaknesses that might otherwise remain undetected. This risk reduction creates value for customers beyond mere compliance, contributing to the overall trust in the cloud service.
Use Cases for FedRAMP Low Authorization
While FedRAMP Low has fewer requirements than Moderate or High, it is still appropriate for many federal use cases addressing important agency needs. Public-facing information systems such as websites and platforms that provide public information but don’t contain sensitive data are prime candidates for FedRAMP Low authorization. These systems focus on information dissemination rather than processing sensitive data, making them well-aligned with the Low impact level.
Basic collaboration platforms, document sharing, and communication tools that don’t process sensitive information can also operate effectively under FedRAMP Low authorization. These tools support day-to-day agency operations and staff productivity without handling data that would require higher security levels. The collaboration needs they address are fundamental to modern work environments but often don’t involve sensitive information.
Learning management systems and training platforms with non-sensitive content serve important workforce development functions while remaining appropriate for FedRAMP Low authorization. These educational tools help agencies maintain staff skills and knowledge without typically involving sensitive data or critical functions that would warrant higher impact levels. The training content is often general in nature and intended for broad distribution within the agency.
Non-production environments that don’t contain real production data, such as development and test systems, can often operate under FedRAMP Low authorization. These environments support application development and testing activities that are essential to IT modernization but can be configured to use synthetic data rather than sensitive information. This approach allows agencies to innovate while maintaining appropriate security controls based on the actual data in use.
Simple workflow applications and tools that don’t process personally identifiable and protected health information (PII/PHI) or other sensitive data can meet agency process needs under FedRAMP Low authorization. These tools help streamline administrative processes and improve operational efficiency without handling information that would require more stringent controls. The workflows they support are important to agency operations but typically involve low-sensitivity information.
Social media management tools, survey systems, and other public engagement solutions facilitate agency interaction with citizens while operating within the FedRAMP Low security boundary. These systems support important public communication functions without typically handling sensitive information that would require higher security levels. The public-facing nature of these interactions aligns well with the Low impact categorization.
Systems designed to distribute public information, reports, and other non-sensitive content serve important information-sharing functions while remaining appropriate for FedRAMP Low authorization. These information dissemination systems support transparency and public awareness without handling the kinds of sensitive information that would warrant Moderate or High controls. The content they manage is typically intended for public consumption rather than protected from disclosure.
These use cases represent significant opportunities for cloud service providers, as federal agencies continue to modernize their IT systems and move to the cloud. While they may not involve the most sensitive federal information, they address real agency needs and support important functions across the government. For cloud service providers new to the federal market, these use cases offer accessible entry points that align with FedRAMP Low authorization.
Kiteworks is FedRAMP Authorized
FedRAMP Low authorization represents a critical entry point into the federal cloud market, balancing security requirements with accessibility for cloud service providers. While it is the least stringent of the FedRAMP authorization levels, it nonetheless establishes a solid security foundation that exceeds typical commercial security practices and provides meaningful protection for federal information with low-impact security categorization.
For cloud service providers, FedRAMP Low offers a practical starting point for federal market entry, providing access to government contracts while requiring fewer resources compared to higher authorization levels. The 125 security controls implemented for Low authorization establish robust security practices that benefit not only federal customers but all users of the cloud service.
Kiteworks has achieved FedRAMP Authorization for moderate impact level information, signaling that its platform meets the rigorous security standards required for federal data protection. By obtaining this authorization, Kiteworks assures government agencies and businesses that its platform can securely handle sensitive information in compliance with federal guidelines.
For government agencies, this authorization simplifies the procurement process by providing a vetted solution that meets stringent security requirements, thereby enhancing data security and compliance. For businesses, particularly those looking to work with government entities, Kiteworks’ FedRAMP Authorization provides a competitive edge, as it ensures their data handling practices align with federal expectations. This can help businesses access government contracts and partnerships, expand their market opportunities, and build trust with government clients.
The Kiteworks Private Content Network, a FIPS 140-2 Level validated secure file sharing and file transfer platform, consolidates email, file sharing, web forms, SFTP and managed file transfer, so organizations control, protect, and track every file as it enters and exits the organization.
Kiteworks deployment options include on-premises, hosted, private, hybrid, and FedRAMP virtual private cloud. With Kiteworks: control access to sensitive content; protect it when it’s shared externally using automated end-to-end encryption, multi-factor authentication, and security infrastructure integrations; see, track, and report all file activity, namely who sends what to whom, when, and how. Finally demonstrate compliance with regulations and standards like GDPR, HIPAA, CMMC, Cyber Essentials Plus, IRAP, and many more.
To learn more about Kiteworks, schedule a custom demo today.