ISO 19600
Guidelines for compliance management systems
FedRAMP
U.S. framework standardizing federal cloud security authorization
Quick Verdict
ISO 19600 offers voluntary CMS guidelines for all organizations worldwide, embedding compliance into culture and operations. FedRAMP mandates rigorous cloud security assessments for US federal vendors via 3PAO audits. Companies adopt ISO 19600 for scalable governance; FedRAMP to win government contracts.
ISO 19600
ISO 19600:2014 Compliance management systems — Guidelines
Key Features
- Explicit governance principles for compliance independence
- PDCA cycle and high-level structure integration
- Risk-based proportionate compliance obligations management
- Scalable to all organization sizes complexities
- Core and soft measures for performance evaluation
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Key Features
- Assess once, use many times authorization model
- NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls by impact levels
- Independent assessments by accredited 3PAOs
- Continuous monitoring with monthly deliverables
- FedRAMP Marketplace for reusable packages
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 19600 Details
What It Is
ISO 19600:2014, Compliance management systems — Guidelines is an international standard providing non-certifiable guidance for establishing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining, and improving a compliance management system (CMS). It uses a risk-based, principles-driven approach applicable to all organizations, emphasizing proportionality to size, structure, and complexity.
Key Components
- Core clauses follow high-level structure (context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, improvement).
- **Principles of good governancedirect access, independence, resources for compliance function.
- PDCA cycle; broad compliance obligations (legal, voluntary); risk assessment; controls; culture monitoring.
- No fixed controls; guidance-based, integrates with other ISO management systems.
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates compliance risks, reduces penalties, enhances governance.
- Builds trust with regulators, stakeholders; supports judicial penalty mitigation.
- Strategic enabler for efficiency, culture, market access; benchmark for best practices.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: context analysis, policy/objectives, controls, monitoring, reviews.
- Scalable for SMEs to multinationals, all sectors; voluntary, no certification but aligns to ISO 37301 successor.
FedRAMP Details
What It Is
FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a U.S. government-wide framework that standardizes security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud services used by federal agencies. Its core purpose is the "assess once, use many times" model, leveraging NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 controls organized by FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High).
Key Components
- Baselines: Low (~150-156 controls), Moderate (~320-323), High (~400-410)
- Artifacts: SSP, SAR, POA&M, continuous monitoring plans
- 3PAO independent assessments; built on NIST standards
- Agency/Program authorizations with Marketplace listing
Why Organizations Use It
- Unlocks $20M+ federal contracts and CMMC compliance
- Reduces risk duplication; enhances stakeholder trust
- Competitive badge for commercial sales
- Strategic revenue growth via government procurement
Implementation Overview
- 12-18 months: sponsor identification, preparation, 3PAO assessment, monitoring
- Targets CSPs of all sizes; high documentation, staffing needs
- Costs $150k-$2M+; requires specialized audits and automation
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 19600 | FedRAMP |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Compliance management systems guidelines | Cloud security assessment and authorization |
| Industry | All organizations worldwide, scalable | US federal cloud service providers |
| Nature | Voluntary guidelines, non-certifiable | Mandatory for federal, standardized program |
| Testing | Internal audits, management reviews | 3PAO assessments, continuous monitoring |
| Penalties | No legal penalties, governance benchmark | Revocation of authorization, contract loss |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 19600 and FedRAMP
ISO 19600 FAQ
FedRAMP FAQ
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