ISO 27001
International standard for information security management systems
FedRAMP
U.S. framework standardizing federal cloud security assessments.
Quick Verdict
ISO 27001 offers voluntary global ISMS certification for all industries, while FedRAMP mandates rigorous U.S. federal cloud authorization with NIST controls. Companies adopt ISO 27001 for broad compliance; FedRAMP unlocks government contracts.
ISO 27001
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
Key Features
- Risk-based approach to ISMS implementation
- PDCA cycle for continual improvement
- 93 Annex A controls in four themes
- Internationally recognized certification standard
- Technology- and industry-agnostic framework
FedRAMP
Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program
Key Features
- Assess once, use many times reusability
- NIST 800-53 Rev 5 baselines by impact level
- Independent 3PAO assessments and SARs
- Continuous monitoring with monthly deliverables
- FedRAMP Marketplace for authorized CSOs
Detailed Analysis
A comprehensive look at the specific requirements, scope, and impact of each standard.
ISO 27001 Details
What It Is
ISO/IEC 27001:2022 is the international certification standard for establishing, implementing, maintaining, and improving an Information Security Management System (ISMS). It provides a systematic, risk-based framework for managing information risks across all asset types, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Key Components
- **Clauses 4-10Mandatory requirements covering context, leadership, planning, support, operation, evaluation, and improvement.
- **Annex A93 controls in four themes (Organizational: 37, People: 8, Physical: 14, Technological: 34).
- Built on PDCA cycle; uses Statement of Applicability (SoA) for risk-justified control selection.
- Certification via accredited auditors (Stage 1/2, surveillance, recertification every 3 years).
Why Organizations Use It
- Mitigates breaches, reduces costs (e.g., 30% fewer incidents).
- Meets regulatory/contractual needs (harmonizes with GDPR, NIST).
- Builds trust, wins bids (20-30% more in finance/tech).
- Enhances resilience, culture, efficiency.
Implementation Overview
Phased: initiation, risk assessment, deployment, certification (6-18 months). Scalable for all sizes/industries; requires leadership, audits, continual improvement.
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 service offerings (CSOs) used by federal agencies. Its primary purpose is enabling "assess once, use many times" via risk-based, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 control baselines mapped to FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High, LI-SaaS).
Key Components
- **Control baselines~156 (Low), ~323 (Moderate), ~410 (High) controls across 20 families.
- Core artifacts: SSP, SAR, POA&M, continuous monitoring plans.
- Built on NIST 800-53, with FedRAMP overlays; 3PAO independent assessments.
- Compliance model: Agency/Program authorizations listed on Marketplace.
Why Organizations Use It
- Unlocks federal contracts ($20M+ potential); CMMC mandates for DoD.
- Demonstrates mature security; revenue catalyst and commercial differentiator.
- Reduces risk duplication; builds stakeholder trust.
Implementation Overview
- Phased: Sponsor, preparation (SSP drafting), 3PAO assessment, monitoring.
- Key activities: FIPS 199 categorization, control implementation, audits.
- Targets CSPs pursuing U.S. federal work; high complexity for all sizes.
Key Differences
| Aspect | ISO 27001 | FedRAMP |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Information Security Management System (ISMS) for all assets | Cloud services security for U.S. federal agencies |
| Industry | All industries, global, any size | Cloud providers serving U.S. federal government |
| Nature | Voluntary international certification standard | Mandatory U.S. government authorization program |
| Testing | Internal audits, certification body audits every 3 years | 3PAO independent assessments, continuous monitoring |
| Penalties | Loss of certification, no legal fines | Loss of authorization, contract ineligibility |
Scope
Industry
Nature
Testing
Penalties
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ISO 27001 and FedRAMP
ISO 27001 FAQ
FedRAMP FAQ
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