Standards Comparison

    CCPA

    Mandatory
    2020

    California regulation granting residents rights over personal data

    VS

    FedRAMP

    Mandatory
    2011

    U.S. government program standardizing cloud security authorization

    Quick Verdict

    CCPA grants California consumers data rights like know, delete, opt-out, enforced by fines; FedRAMP authorizes secure federal cloud via NIST controls and 3PAO audits. Companies adopt CCPA for CA compliance and FedRAMP to win government contracts.

    Data Privacy

    CCPA

    California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA/CPRA)

    Cost
    €€€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    6-12 months

    Key Features

    • Consumer rights to know, delete, opt-out, correct, limit sensitive PI
    • Applies to businesses over $25M revenue or 100K CA consumers/devices
    • Requires notices at collection and Do Not Sell/Share links
    • Mandates Global Privacy Control (GPC) opt-out honoring
    • Fines up to $7,500 per intentional violation plus breach lawsuits
    Cloud Security

    FedRAMP

    Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program

    Cost
    €€€
    Complexity
    Medium
    Implementation Time
    12-18 months

    Key Features

    • Assess once, use many times reusability
    • NIST 800-53 Rev 5 baselines by impact level
    • Independent 3PAO security assessments
    • Continuous monitoring with monthly deliverables
    • FedRAMP Marketplace for authorized CSPs

    Detailed Analysis

    A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.

    CCPA Details

    What It Is

    The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), is a state regulation establishing consumer privacy rights for California residents. It applies to for-profit businesses meeting thresholds like $25M revenue or handling data of 100K+ consumers. Primary purpose: empower consumers with control over personal information (PI) via rights-based approach, including broad PI definitions covering households and inferences.

    Key Components

    • Core rights: know/access, delete, opt-out sales/sharing, correct, limit sensitive PI use
    • Obligations: notices at collection, privacy policies, vendor contracts, GPC honoring
    • Enforcement by CPPA and Attorney General with $2,500-$7,500 fines per violation
    • Private right of action for breaches; no formal certification, but audits required

    Why Organizations Use It

    Mandatory for qualifying businesses to avoid fines, litigation, reputational damage. Drives data governance, efficiency, trust; aligns with GDPR; enables market differentiation and partnerships.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: scoping/gap analysis (0-3 months), policies/contracts (1-4 months), technical controls (2-6 months), operationalization/training, ongoing audits. Targets data-heavy industries globally if CA ties; requires cross-functional teams, automation tools.

    FedRAMP Details

    What It Is

    FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a U.S. government-wide framework standardizing security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud services used by federal agencies. Its primary purpose is enabling "assess once, use many times" to reduce duplication, based on risk-based NIST SP 800-53 controls mapped to FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High).

    Key Components

    • Baselines with ~156 (Low), ~323 (Moderate), ~410 (High) controls, plus LI-SaaS variant.
    • Core artifacts: SSP, SAR, POA&M, continuous monitoring plans.
    • Built on NIST 800-53 Rev 5; uses 3PAO independent assessments.
    • Compliance via Agency or Program Authorizations, listed on Marketplace.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Unlocks federal contracts worth $20M+; required for CMMC/federal procurement.
    • Enhances risk management, competitive edge, commercial trust.
    • Builds stakeholder confidence via rigorous, reusable security posture.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: categorization, documentation, 3PAO assessment, authorization, monitoring.
    • Applies to CSPs targeting U.S. federal market; high resource needs.
    • Audit by accredited 3PAOs; timelines 12-18 months typical.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    CCPA
    Consumer privacy rights and data handling
    FedRAMP
    Cloud security assessment and authorization

    Industry

    CCPA
    Businesses meeting CA thresholds, global reach
    FedRAMP
    Cloud providers serving US federal agencies

    Nature

    CCPA
    Mandatory state regulation with fines
    FedRAMP
    Government authorization program, mandatory for federal

    Testing

    CCPA
    No formal audits, self-managed compliance
    FedRAMP
    3PAO assessments, annual reassessments

    Penalties

    CCPA
    $2,500-$7,500 per violation, private actions
    FedRAMP
    Revocation of authorization, contract loss

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about CCPA and FedRAMP

    CCPA FAQ

    FedRAMP FAQ

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