GovRAMP vs FedRAMP
If you provide technology to government agencies, you’ll likely need FedRAMP for federal customers, GovRAMP for state, local, and education (SLED) customers, or both.
Here’s how they compare and where to start.
Who Is Each Framework For?
GovRAMP helps state, local, and educational organizations evaluate the information security of their third-party products and service providers.
Organizations that commonly pursue GovRAMP include:
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State agencies
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Local governments
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Public education institutions
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Public safety organizations
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Healthcare and public sector entities
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Vendors who store, process, or transmit relevant government data
FedRAMP is the federal government's standard for evaluating and authorizing cloud services. If you want to sell to U.S. federal agencies, FedRAMP is the required path to show that your cloud service meets federal security requirements.
Organizations that commonly pursue FedRAMP include:
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Civilian federal agencies
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Defense-supporting federal organizations
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Federal service providers
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Contractors selling directly to federal agencies
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Vendors who store, process, or transmit relevant federal data
GovRAMP helps state, local, and educational organizations evaluate the information security of their third-party products and service providers.
Organizations that commonly pursue GovRAMP include:
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State agencies
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Local governments
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Public education institutions
-
Public safety organizations
-
Healthcare and public sector entities
-
Vendors who store, process, or transmit relevant government data
FedRAMP is the federal government's standard for evaluating and authorizing cloud services. If you want to sell to U.S. federal agencies, FedRAMP is the required path to show that your cloud service meets federal security requirements.
Organizations that commonly pursue FedRAMP include:
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Civilian federal agencies
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Defense-supporting federal organizations
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Federal service providers
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Contractors selling directly to federal agencies
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Vendors who store, process, or transmit relevant federal data
Not Sure Which Framework Makes Sense for You?
RAMPQuest’s Consulting & Advisory team works with organizations to evaluate their goals and recommend the most efficient compliance roadmap.
How are GovRAMP & FedRAMP Similar?
GovRAMP and FedRAMP are built around NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 security controls and encourage continuous risk management rather than one-time compliance.
Organizations pursuing either framework should expect to:
Implement strong security controls
Document policies and procedures
Complete independent assessments where required
Maintain ongoing monitoring and continuous compliance
How are GovRAMP & FedRAMP Different?
Although GovRAMP and FedRAMP share many technical similarities, they differ in governance, target audience, and verification models. These differences determine which program your organization should pursue first.
Framework differences include:
Serve different government markets (state/local vs. federal)
Require different levels of oversight, investment, and validation
Align assurance levels to different government security needs
Use different verification models (statuses vs. certification classes)
Verification Models
GovRAMP and FedRAMP both provide pathways for demonstrating cloud security assurance, but they use different verification models. GovRAMP statuses and FedRAMP classes are not direct equivalents.
GovRAMP Verification Statuses
Core
Establish a security foundation: 60 security controls aligned to NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 for a strong baseline.
Ready
Requires a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO): 80 security controls aligned to NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5.
Authorized
Independent assessment required:
300+ security controls aligned to NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5.
FedRAMP Certification Classes
Class A
Establishes a foundation for federal business: Designed for organizations beginning their FedRAMP journey.
Class B
Supports lower-risk federal use cases: Provides greater assurance than Class A.
Class C
Supports more complex federal environments: Requires greater security validation and commitment.
Class D
Highest level of FedRAMP certification: Designed for highly sensitive federal use cases.
Which Should You Pursue First?
If your primary customers are federal agencies, FedRAMP will likely be your starting point. If your business serves, or plans to serve, state, local, or education agencies, GovRAMP is the better fit.
If you plan to serve both markets, completing FedRAMP first may let you reuse that work toward GovRAMP through Fast Track.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between GovRAMP and FedRAMP?
GovRAMP and FedRAMP are both cybersecurity frameworks for service providers, but they serve different government markets. GovRAMP is designed for state, local, and educational organizations, while FedRAMP is required for cloud services used by U.S. federal agencies.
Is GovRAMP easier than FedRAMP?
Not necessarily. Both programs are based on NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, but their processes and requirements differ. The right program depends less on which is "easier" and more on which government market you plan to serve.
Can FedRAMP help me achieve GovRAMP?
Yes. If you're already pursuing or have achieved FedRAMP, you may be eligible for the GovRAMP Fast Track Program. Fast Track allows organizations to leverage existing FedRAMP documentation and assessment evidence to speed up their GovRAMP journey.
Do GovRAMP and FedRAMP use the same security controls?
Yes, with some minor differences in specific requirements. Although the security foundation is the same, each program has its own governance, review process, and authorization requirements.
Do I need separate assessments?
It depends on your compliance strategy. If you're pursuing both programs, some work may be reusable, especially through GovRAMP Fast Track, but each program has its own review and verification process.
Which framework should I pursue first?
Start with the framework that aligns with the government customers you want to serve. If your primary market is state, local, tribal, or education organizations, GovRAMP is typically the best starting point. If you're selling to U.S. federal agencies, you'll likely need to pursue FedRAMP.
How much does GovRAMP cost compared to FedRAMP?
The cost of GovRAMP and FedRAMP varies based on factors such as your organization's size, security maturity, environment, and assessment scope. Because GovRAMP Fast Track allows eligible organizations to leverage existing FedRAMP work, it may reduce the time and effort required to achieve GovRAMP verification.
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