FedRAMP Authorization Consulting: Moderate & High Baselines

FedRAMP authorization program build and continuous monitoring support for B2B SaaS and consulting firms selling to US federal agencies.

Comprehensive FedRAMP Authorization Consulting & End-to-End ATO Program Build

FedRAMP authorization is the gateway to selling cloud services to the US federal government. The program runs on the NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 control set, parameterized for three impact baselines (Low at 156 controls, Moderate at around 320, High at around 420), executed through the NIST Risk Management Framework, validated by an accredited Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO), and operated under continuous monitoring. The 2024 FedRAMP Authorization Act codified the program; the 2024 to 2025 FedRAMP 20x modernization is reshaping it toward continuous authorization, OSCAL-native System Security Plans, and automated evidence collection. CSPs entering the program now should build to the new standard from day one.

Security Consultants prepares CSPs for FedRAMP authorization. We are not a 3PAO. We run the FIPS 199 categorization and baseline selection, draw the authorization boundary, author the SSP in OSCAL, build the supporting plans (ISCP, IR, CM, ConMon, CRM, POA&M), remediate technical gaps including FIPS-validated cryptography and phishing-resistant MFA, and coordinate the program through the 3PAO assessment and the Authorizing Official decision. Once the ATO letter is signed, our vCISO subscription operates monthly ConMon deliverables, annual reassessment readiness, and significant change governance. The same evidence base supports parallel ISO 27001 or SOC 2 programs.

Service advantage icon
Tight Authorization Boundary and FIPS 199 Categorization

The boundary is the single most consequential scoping decision in any FedRAMP program. We draw it tight, categorize per FIPS 199, select the Low, Moderate, or High baseline, and map every external service with its authorization status. Scope discipline at the start saves seven figures over the life of the program.

Service advantage icon
OSCAL-Native SSP Authoring

We author the System Security Plan and component definitions in OSCAL, the machine-readable format the FedRAMP PMO is moving toward under FedRAMP 20x. Build it once in OSCAL; avoid expensive re-authoring when the PMO mandates the format.

Service advantage icon
Readiness Consulting, Not 3PAO Assessment

We prepare you for the 3PAO. We are not the assessor and never will be. That separation lets us focus entirely on building a defensible program and representing it through the SAR and Authorizing Official decision, without the conflict that comes from selling readiness and assessment under one roof.

Service advantage icon
ATO is the Start, Not the Finish

ConMon is where most CSPs lose discipline after authorization. Our vCISO subscription operates monthly vulnerability scan packaging, POA&M maintenance with SLA-aligned remediation tracking, significant change requests, and annual reassessment readiness on the OSCAL SSP under version control.

A proven, methodical
approach

[ STEP_01 ]
Project Kick-Off & Setup

We start with a project kick-off where the manager sets up your engagement in our project management platform. We confirm your authorization path (Agency ATO, JAB or successor Board, or FedRAMP Ready precursor), identify the sponsoring agency status, name an authorization program director, and agree the communication plan.

[ STEP_02 ]
FIPS 199 Categorization & Boundary Definition

We categorize the system per FIPS 199 across confidentiality, integrity, and availability, select the Low, Moderate, or High baseline, and draw the authorization boundary. Every external service is mapped to its FedRAMP authorization status or flagged for replacement before the assessment.

[ STEP_03 ]
Gap Analysis Against the NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 Baseline

We assess your environment against the selected FedRAMP baseline across all 17 NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 control families, with control-by-control implementation status, inheritance from the underlying authorized platform (AWS GovCloud, Azure Government, Google Government, or Oracle Government), and prioritized remediation tied to the assessment readiness milestone.

[ STEP_04 ]
SSP, ISCP, IR, CRM and Body of Evidence

We author the System Security Plan in OSCAL with control implementation statements written as operational descriptions rather than policy restatements. The Information System Contingency Plan, Incident Response Plan, Configuration Management Plan, Continuous Monitoring Plan, Customer Responsibility Matrix, Interconnection Security Agreements, and Privacy Impact Assessment complete the package.

[ STEP_05 ]
Technical Remediation & 3PAO Assessment Coordination

We close the technical gaps: FIPS 140-validated cryptography in transit and at rest with documented CMVP certificate references, phishing-resistant MFA for privileged users, FedRAMP-aligned vulnerability scanning with the Critical 30 / High 90 / Moderate 180-day SLAs, and ConMon-ready logging at three-year retention. We then coordinate the 3PAO security assessment, manage SAR findings into the POA&M, and represent the program through the Authorizing Official decision.

[ STEP_06 ]
Post-ATO Operations, vCISO & Ongoing Assurance

Once the ATO letter is signed, our vCISO subscription operates monthly ConMon deliverables (scans, POA&M updates, significant change documentation, incident reports), annual contingency plan testing, annual penetration testing, and annual 3PAO reassessment readiness. The OSCAL SSP is maintained under version control and the evidence base is shared with parallel ISO 27001 or SOC 2 programs.

"Working with Attila has been an outstanding experience from start to finish. As a professional CISO, Security, and Compliance consultant, Attila's down-to-earth, no-nonsense, and well-organized approach was instrumental in guiding us through the process of getting ISO 27001 certified. His expertise in the field is undeniable, and his ability to navigate the complexities of certification with such ease made all the difference."

Wim Vandevelde
Owner, Quidando

"Attila delivered outstanding work, guiding us through the entire process of achieving our ISO 27001 certification for two companies. His expertise, attention to detail, and commitment were evident at every step. He provided clear, actionable advice, ensuring we met all requirements with confidence. Highly recommended for anyone seeking top-notch support in cybersecurity and compliance. 10/10!"

Christian Buerger
Founder & CEO, Auditi

"Attila is a true Information Security expert and we've worked with him to achieve ISO27001 certification. Highly recommended."

Chris Purcell
Managing Director, CareScribe

"Working with Attila has been an exceptional experience! They provided invaluable assistance in preparing our company for ISO 27001 security certification, guiding us through every step of the process with professionalism and expertise. Their knowledge of the certification requirements, combined with their ability to tailor solutions to our unique needs, was instrumental in ensuring our readiness. The team was thorough, efficient, and highly responsive, consistently delivering high-quality work and actionable insights. Thanks to their support, we feel confident in our security posture and are well-prepared for the certification audit."

Vadim Cissa
CEO, Allasso

"Attila and his team were everything that we were looking for in this specific task and more. We were completely new to the ISO accreditation & auditing process and he helped us understand the procedure even before he officially entered a contract of employment with us.

We first discussed a plan of how long it would take to complete the accreditation, and both were done within the agreed timeframe and boundaries. As a result, we achieved the ultimate goal of obtaining the prestigious ISO 27001:2022 certification.

Attila had great patience when it came to answering all of our questions, and he was very professional from the start till the end. We will keep him in mind if I we need an ISO accreditation and auditing consultation again, we sincerely recommend him to anyone who seek ISO accreditation."

Jonas Nielsen
CEO & Co-founder, Accrease

“The Security Consultants team is infinitely capable and has years of experience navigating complex compliance programs. They were able to explain, in simple terms, what sort of scope we were looking at and how to put in place an execution plan and roadmap to achieve our objectives. Our business (Valid8 Financial) requires SOC 2, HIPAA, FedRAMP, and GDPR compliance as we deal with extremely sensitive financial data.”

Chris McCall
CEO, Valid8 Financials