5 Questions to Ask Before Choosing a FedRAMP Cloud Provider

FedRAMP compliance is mandatory for both federal agencies and any third parties that handle federal data. Many federal contractors will rely on their cloud service provider (CSP) to meet their security and compliance needs as well as their operational ones. With that in mind, here are 5 questions to ask before choosing a FedRAMP cloud provider.

Question 1: What level of FedRAMP authorization do you have?

One of the first questions to ask a cloud provider is what FedRAMP authorization level they have—Low, Moderate, or High. These levels are based on the sensitivity of the data being processed and the potential impact of a security breach.

Low impact: Suitable for systems where data loss would have minimal effect on operations.
Moderate impact: Covers the majority of government data, where a breach could cause serious harm but not be catastrophic.
High impact: Used for mission-critical systems where a security incident could result in severe financial or operational consequences.

Additionally, it’s important to ask whether the provider has an Agency ATO (Authority to Operate) or JAB P-ATO (Joint Authorization Board Provisional ATO). A JAB P-ATO is more rigorous and widely accepted, while an Agency ATO is specific to the authorizing federal agency.

Ensuring the provider’s authorization level aligns with your security requirements is critical for compliance.

Question 2: How do you handle continuous monitoring and security updates?

FedRAMP compliance is not a “one-and-done” exercise. Continuous monitoring (ConMon) is required to maintain authorization. A reliable cloud provider should therefore have a well-defined strategy for ongoing implementing security updates, threat detection, and compliance reporting.

In particular, they should be able to explain, clearly and in detail, how they manage the following four issues.

Automated security monitoring: Does the provider use real-time threat detection, vulnerability scanning, and log management tools to identify risks?
Patch management: How frequently are security patches and software updates applied to protect against emerging threats?
Incident response protocols: In case of a security breach, what incident response plan does the provider follow, and how quickly are agencies notified?
Compliance reporting: How does the provider handle monthly security scans, annual assessments, and continuous risk evaluations to meet FedRAMP requirements?

Question 3: What security controls and compliance measures are in place?

A FedRAMP cloud provider must implement strict security controls to protect sensitive government data. Understanding how a provider secures its infrastructure helps ensure compliance with NIST 800-53 requirements.

It’s especially important to ask about the following four security measures.

Data encryption: Does the provider use FIPS 140-2 validated encryption for data at rest and in transit?
Access controls and identity management: How does the provider enforce role-based access control (RBAC), multi-factor authentication (MFA), and privileged account management?
Incident response and threat detection: What security monitoring tools does the provider use to detect unauthorized access, insider threats, and cyberattacks?
Backup and disaster recovery: Does the provider offer automated backups, failover systems, and continuity planning to minimize downtime?

Question 4: What are the costs and contracting terms?

Understanding the full cost and contract structure of a FedRAMP cloud provider is essential to avoid unexpected expenses. Cloud services often have complex pricing models, and failing to clarify costs upfront can lead to budget overruns.

A transparent cost structure and flexible contract options ensure that organizations can maintain FedRAMP compliance while staying within budget. Always request a detailed pricing breakdown to avoid unexpected costs.

Check the following three points specifically.

Pricing model: Is pricing based on a subscription, pay-as-you-go, or tiered model? Are there additional fees for data transfers, security scans, or additional compliance audits?
Contract flexibility: Does the provider offer short-term or long-term contracts? Are there penalties for scaling up or down based on agency needs?
Ongoing compliance costs: Are continuous monitoring, security assessments, and annual audits included in the price, or are they billed separately?

Question 5: How scalable and reliable is your cloud infrastructure?

A FedRAMP cloud provider must offer a scalable and reliable infrastructure to support an organization’s evolving needs. Ensuring that the provider can handle increased workloads, support hybrid environments, and maintain high availability is critical for long-term success.

A high-performing, resilient cloud provider ensures that government agencies and contractors can operate without disruptions while meeting FedRAMP’s strict performance and security requirements.

Here are three key factors to evaluate.

Uptime and availability: What service level agreement (SLA) guarantees does the provider offer? A 99.9% or higher uptime is essential for mission-critical applications.
Scalability: Can the provider dynamically scale resources to accommodate growth or fluctuating demands? Is there support for hybrid or multi-cloud environments?
Disaster recovery and redundancy: Does the provider have geographically distributed data centers, automated failover mechanisms, and robust disaster recovery plans?