Standards Comparison

    ISO 37001

    Voluntary
    2025

    International standard for anti-bribery management systems

    VS

    FedRAMP

    Mandatory
    2011

    U.S. program standardizing federal cloud security authorization

    Quick Verdict

    ISO 37001 certifies global anti-bribery systems voluntarily, mitigating corruption risks across industries. FedRAMP authorizes US federal cloud services mandatorily, ensuring NIST-compliant security for government contracts.

    Anti-Bribery/Compliance

    ISO 37001

    ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems

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

    Key Features

    • Certifiable anti-bribery management system standard
    • Risk-based bribery risk assessment and controls
    • Mandatory third-party due diligence processes
    • Leadership commitment and compliance function
    • PDCA cycle for continual improvement
    Cloud Security

    FedRAMP

    Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program

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

    Key Features

    • NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 control baselines at three impact levels
    • Third-party assessments by accredited 3PAOs
    • Continuous monitoring with quarterly and annual reporting
    • Assess once, use many times reusability model
    • FedRAMP Marketplace for authorized cloud services

    Detailed Analysis

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

    ISO 37001 Details

    What It Is

    ISO 37001:2025 Anti-Bribery Management Systems is an internationally certifiable standard providing requirements and guidance for establishing, implementing, and improving an ABMS. Its primary purpose is preventing, detecting, and responding to bribery risks across organizations, using a risk-based, proportionate approach aligned with PDCA cycle and Harmonized Structure (HS).

    Key Components

    • Clauses 4-10 cover context, leadership, planning, support, operations, evaluation, improvement.
    • Core controls: policy, risk assessment, due diligence, financial/non-financial controls, training, reporting.
    • Built on ISO management system principles; optional third-party certification with audits.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Mitigates legal risks (e.g., FCPA, UK Bribery Act) via evidentiary due diligence.
    • Builds stakeholder trust, reputational assurance, ESG alignment.
    • Delivers efficiencies (up to 15% compliance cost reduction), operational controls.
    • Enables market access, competitive edge in tenders.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: gap analysis, risk assessment, control design, training, audits.
    • Scalable for all sizes/sectors; 6-12 months typical.
    • Certification optional via accredited bodies, annual surveillance.

    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 NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 controls and FIPS 199 impact levels.

    Key Components

    • Baselines for Low (~156 controls), Moderate (~323), High (~410), plus LI-SaaS tailored baseline.
    • Core artifacts: SSP, SAR, POA&M, continuous monitoring plans.
    • Built on NIST standards; requires 3PAO independent assessments.
    • Compliance via Agency or Program Authorizations.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Unlocks federal contracts worth $20M+.
    • Mandatory for CMMC-compliant DoD work.
    • Enhances risk management and FedRAMP badge for commercial trust.
    • Strategic ROI through reuse and market differentiation.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: Sponsor, Preparation, Assessment, Continuous Monitoring.
    • Involves gap analysis, documentation, 3PAO audits, remediation.
    • Targets CSPs pursuing U.S. federal business; high complexity for all sizes.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    ISO 37001
    Anti-bribery management systems only
    FedRAMP
    Cloud security assessment and monitoring

    Industry

    ISO 37001
    All sectors, global applicability
    FedRAMP
    US federal cloud providers primarily

    Nature

    ISO 37001
    Voluntary international certification standard
    FedRAMP
    US government-mandated authorization program

    Testing

    ISO 37001
    Third-party certification audits, annual surveillance
    FedRAMP
    3PAO assessments, continuous monthly monitoring

    Penalties

    ISO 37001
    Loss of certification, no direct fines
    FedRAMP
    Revocation of authorization, contract ineligibility

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about ISO 37001 and FedRAMP

    ISO 37001 FAQ

    FedRAMP FAQ

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