Standards Comparison

    TISAX

    Mandatory
    2017

    Automotive standard for secure information assessment exchange

    VS

    FedRAMP

    Mandatory
    2011

    U.S. program standardizing federal cloud security authorization

    Quick Verdict

    TISAX standardizes automotive supply chain security assessments for OEM trust, while FedRAMP authorizes federal cloud services via NIST controls. Automotive firms adopt TISAX for contracts; cloud providers pursue FedRAMP to access government procurement.

    Cybersecurity

    TISAX

    Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange (TISAX)

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

    Key Features

    • Central ENX portal shares assessments across OEMs
    • Automotive-specific prototype protection controls
    • Tiered risk-based levels: AL1 self to AL3 on-site
    • VDA ISA catalog with maturity grading 0-5
    • Three-year reusable labels reduce duplicate audits
    Cloud Security

    FedRAMP

    Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program

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

    Key Features

    • NIST 800-53 Rev 5 controls at Low/Moderate/High baselines
    • "Assess once, use many times" reusability across agencies
    • Independent 3PAO security assessments and audits
    • Continuous monitoring with monthly/annual deliverables
    • FedRAMP Marketplace listing for authorized CSPs

    Detailed Analysis

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

    TISAX Details

    What It Is

    TISAX (Trusted Information Security Assessment Exchange) is an industry framework for standardizing information security assessments in the automotive supply chain. Developed by VDA and managed by ENX Association, it verifies protection of sensitive data like IP, prototypes, and personal information using the VDA ISA catalog. It employs a risk-based approach with three assessment levels (AL1-AL3) focused on CIA triad plus automotive specifics.

    Key Components

    • 70+ controls across policy, access, operations, supplier risks in VDA ISA 5.0.4/6.0.
    • Builds on ISO 27001 with prototype protection modules.
    • Maturity grading (0-5); labels valid 3 years.
    • ENX portal for secure result exchange.

    Why Organizations Use It

    OEMs mandate it contractually for suppliers; non-compliance risks contract loss, fines. Provides efficiency (70-90% audit reduction), market access, risk mitigation (€4.5M breach savings), trust in €2.5T chain.

    Implementation Overview

    Phased: preparation/gap analysis (1-3 months), remediation/tabletops (3-9 months), audit/label (2-4 months), ongoing sustainment. Applies to OEMs, Tier 1/2 suppliers, services; scalable for SMEs to globals via self-assess or on-site audits.

    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 risk-based NIST SP 800-53 controls mapped to FIPS 199 impact levels (Low, Moderate, High).

    Key Components

    • Baselines with ~156 (Low), 323 (Moderate), 410 (High) controls, plus LI-SaaS variant.
    • Core artifacts: SSP, SAR, POA&M, continuous monitoring plans.
    • Built on NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5; compliance via 3PAO assessments and agency/program ATOs.

    Why Organizations Use It

    • Unlocks federal contracts worth $20M+; required for CMMC contractors.
    • Enhances risk management, competitive edge, and trust via Marketplace listing.
    • Strategic ROI through reusability and commercial differentiation.

    Implementation Overview

    • Phased: sponsor/preparation/assessment/monitoring (12-18 months typical).
    • Gap analysis, documentation, 3PAO audits for CSPs targeting U.S. federal market.

    Key Differences

    Scope

    TISAX
    Automotive info security, prototypes, CIA triad
    FedRAMP
    Cloud services security, NIST 800-53 baselines

    Industry

    TISAX
    Automotive supply chain, global but Europe-focused
    FedRAMP
    US federal agencies, cloud providers

    Nature

    TISAX
    Voluntary industry assessment/exchange
    FedRAMP
    Mandatory govt program for federal cloud

    Testing

    TISAX
    Self-assess to AL3 on-site audits by ENX providers
    FedRAMP
    3PAO assessments at Low/Mod/High baselines

    Penalties

    TISAX
    Contract loss, no legal fines
    FedRAMP
    No federal contracts, potential revocation

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Common questions about TISAX and FedRAMP

    TISAX FAQ

    FedRAMP FAQ

    You Might also be Interested in These Articles...

    Run Maturity Assessments with GRADUM

    Transform your compliance journey with our AI-powered assessment platform

    Assess your organization's maturity across multiple standards and regulations including ISO 27001, DORA, NIS2, NIST, GDPR, and hundreds more. Get actionable insights and track your progress with collaborative, AI-powered evaluations.

    100+ Standards & Regulations
    AI-Powered Insights
    Collaborative Assessments
    Actionable Recommendations

    Check out these other Gradum.io Standards Comparison Pages