FedRAMP
U.S. program standardizing federal cloud security authorization
ISO 22301
International standard for business continuity management systems
Quick Verdict
FedRAMP standardizes cloud security for US federal agencies, while ISO 22301 builds business continuity resilience globally. Companies pursue FedRAMP for government contracts; ISO 22301 for disruption protection, compliance, and stakeholder trust across industries.
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Key Features
- Assess once, use many times reusability across agencies
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 baselines by impact levels
- Independent 3PAO security assessments and audits
- Ongoing continuous monitoring with monthly reporting
- FIPS 199 categorization for tailored risk baselines
ISO 22301
ISO 22301:2019 Business continuity management systems Requirements
Key Features
- PDCA cycle for continual BCMS improvement
- Business Impact Analysis to prioritize functions
- Risk assessment and recovery strategies
- Leadership commitment and policy requirements
- Operational testing and exercise mandates
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
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 while aligning with FISMA and NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 via risk-based baselines (Low, Moderate, High).
Key Components
- **Control baselines~156 (Low), 323 (Moderate), 410 (High) from NIST 800-53, plus LI-SaaS tailored subset.
- Core artifacts: System Security Plan (SSP), Security Assessment Report (SAR), Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M).
- Paths: Agency or Program Authorizations by 3PAOs.
- Continuous monitoring playbook with monthly/annual reporting.
Why Organizations Use It
CSPs pursue FedRAMP for federal contract access ($20M+ potential), CMMC compliance, and commercial differentiation. It mitigates risks, builds trust, and unlocks government markets via Marketplace visibility.
Implementation Overview
Involves FIPS 199 categorization, SSP development, 3PAO assessment, remediation. Targets CSPs; 12-18 months typical, high costs ($150k-$2M+). Requires dedicated teams, automation for ConMon.
ISO 22301 Details
What It Is
ISO 22301:2019 is the international standard titled Security and resilience — Business continuity management systems — Requirements. It specifies requirements for a Business Continuity Management System (BCMS) to protect against, reduce the likelihood of, and ensure recovery from disruptive incidents. The standard follows a PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle and Annex SL high-level structure for flexibility and integration.
Key Components
- 10 clauses: scope, context (Clause 4), leadership (5), planning with BIA and risk assessment (6), support (7), operation including testing (8), evaluation (9), improvement (10)
- No prescriptive controls; risk-based and adaptable
- Built on PDCA for continual enhancement
- Certification model: 3-year validity with annual surveillance audits
Why Organizations Use It
- Builds resilience against cyberattacks, disasters, supply failures
- Ensures regulatory compliance (e.g., NIS Directive, NIST)
- Reduces financial losses, downtime; enhances reputation and trust
- Provides competitive advantages, lower insurance premiums
Implementation Overview
- Step-by-step: gap analysis, BIA, training, testing, audits
- Applicable to all sizes, sectors, geographies
- Typical 60 days to 6 months; 2-stage certification (6-8 weeks)
Key Differences
| Aspect | FedRAMP | ISO 22301 |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Cloud security assessment/authorization | Business continuity management system |
| Industry | US federal cloud providers | All sectors worldwide |
| Nature | US government program, mandatory for federal | Voluntary international certification standard |
| Testing | 3PAO assessments, continuous monitoring | Internal audits, management reviews, exercises |
| Penalties | Loss of federal contracts, delisting | No legal penalties, loss of certification |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about FedRAMP and ISO 22301
FedRAMP FAQ
ISO 22301 FAQ
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