FedRAMP
U.S. program standardizing federal cloud security assessments
NERC CIP
Mandatory standards for BES cybersecurity and reliability
Quick Verdict
FedRAMP standardizes cloud security authorizations for US federal agencies via 3PAO assessments and monitoring, enabling reuse. NERC CIP mandates BES cybersecurity for electric utilities with FERC-enforced audits. Organizations adopt them for compliance, market access, and grid reliability.
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Key Features
- Reusable authorizations via assess-once-use-many-times model
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev5 baselines for Low/Moderate/High impacts
- Independent assessments by accredited 3PAOs
- Continuous monitoring with monthly vulnerability scans
- FedRAMP Marketplace listing for agency reuse
NERC CIP
NERC Critical Infrastructure Protection Reliability Standards
Key Features
- Risk-based BES Cyber System impact categorization
- Electronic and physical security perimeters
- 35-day patch evaluation and monitoring cadences
- Mandatory incident reporting and response plans
- Supply chain cybersecurity risk management
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 secure, reusable cloud adoption via NIST SP 800-53 Rev5 baselines mapped to FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High), using a risk-based approach with tailored overlays.
Key Components
- Core pillars: System Security Plan (SSP), 3PAO assessments, POA&Ms, continuous monitoring.
- ~156/323/410 controls for Low/Moderate/High baselines; LI-SaaS subset for low-risk SaaS.
- Built on NIST standards; OSCAL for machine-readable docs.
- Compliance via Agency/Program Authorizations listed in Marketplace.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mandatory for federal cloud vendors to access contracts.
- Enables reuse across agencies, reducing duplication.
- Enhances security posture, market credibility, ROI via $20M+ deals.
- Builds trust with agencies, mitigates legal risks.
Implementation Overview
- Gap analysis, SSP development, 3PAO assessment, remediation, monitoring.
- Targets CSPs; high complexity/cost ($150k-$2M+, 10-19 months).
- Audits by A2LA-accredited 3PAOs; ongoing deliverables required.
NERC CIP Details
What It Is
NERC CIP (North American Electric Reliability Corporation Critical Infrastructure Protection) are mandatory Reliability Standards for cybersecurity and physical security of the Bulk Electric System (BES) in North America. They employ a risk-based, tiered model categorizing BES Cyber Systems by High, Medium, or Low impact to prioritize controls.
Key Components
- Core standards: CIP-002 to CIP-014 (13+ standards, 100+ requirements)
- Pillars: asset identification, governance (CIP-003), personnel/training (CIP-004), perimeters (CIP-005/006), system security (CIP-007), incident response/recovery (CIP-008/009), configuration management (CIP-010), supply chain (CIP-013)
- Compliance via annual audits, evidence retention (3 years), enforced by FERC penalties
Why Organizations Use It
- Legal mandate for BES owners/operators (Transmission/Generator entities)
- Mitigates grid instability risks, avoids multimillion fines
- Enhances resilience, operational efficiency, insurance benefits
- Builds stakeholder trust in reliability
Implementation Overview
- Phased: scoping/inventory, policy development, technical controls, testing/audits
- Applies to utilities in US/Canada/Mexico; complex IT/OT integration
- No certification; ongoing NERC/FERC audits required (179 words)
Key Differences
| Aspect | FedRAMP | NERC CIP |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Cloud security assessment, authorization, monitoring | BES cybersecurity, physical security, reliability standards |
| Industry | Cloud providers serving US federal agencies | Electric utilities, grid operators in North America |
| Nature | Standardized authorization program, mandatory for federal use | Mandatory reliability standards enforced by FERC |
| Testing | 3PAO assessments, continuous monitoring, annual reassessments | Audits, vulnerability assessments every 15/36 months |
| Penalties | Loss of authorization, procurement exclusion | FERC fines up to $1M per violation per day |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about FedRAMP and NERC CIP
FedRAMP FAQ
NERC CIP FAQ
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