The Fastest Way to Transition to NIST 800-53 Rev 5

Getting Started – Manual vs Automated Rev 5 Transition Options

Rev 5 is full of controls that have been moved, split, or added. Li-SaaS documentation alone has an 86% net change in requirements. Your time is quickly running out to finish the update.

At this point you have 2 choices:

Manually track down and update all the changes before the deadline.
Move to automated compliance documentation and transition your documents to Rev 5 in hours.

Simple enough, yeah? LOL. Good joke.

We all know there’s nothing simple about it. But with new technology and tools, it really doesn’t have to be so bad.

Let’s take a better look at your options to get started:

Manually Transitioning to NIST 800-53 Rev 5 Transition

If you’re doing this process the old-school way you can begin by:

Checking out FedRAMP’s CSP transition plan. This can give you the guidance you need to make sure you’re hitting all the necessary steps.
Sort through the added, split, moved, and removed controls. You can find them on FedRAMP’s Rev 5 transition page or check out our summary.
From here, you know the drill and there’s no way to sugar coat it. Keep the caffeine on tap, hug a loved one, and prepare for pain. It’s time to Ctrl C, Ctrl V. Over, and over, and over (and over) again until you get it right or the carpal tunnel syndrome becomes too painful.

Keep in mind, the manual option is slow, tedious and unavoidable human errors will slow you down.

Automatically Transition your SSP to Rev 5

The other option is to make the move to an automated SSP with Paramify.
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We know, it sounds absolutely crazy, but it’s true that you can have your updated SSP in hours with Paramify’s platform.

Here’s how you do it:

Provide the basic information from your SSP in a short (30-60 meeting) with our team. By the end of the meeting, you’ll have a first draft of your docs.
Generate a finished version within several hours to days.

How long will your automated Rev5 transition take?

With automation you can move to Rev 5 in 1-7 days.

Exactly how long your Rev 5 update takes will depend how intensely your team dives in. It’s definitely possible to finish in hours if you want to get your whole team on a call and hammer it out quickly.

Not in a rush? Knock most of it out in about an hour, then spread the rest of the work out over a few days.

It sounds impossible to anyone who’s ever dealt with compliance documentation. But, we’ve done it many times and we know it’s possible for your company — whether you’re large or small or have low impact data to FedRAMP High or Equivalent.

More good news: By the end of this speedy process you’ll actually have a better SSP since human error is drastically reduced. How does a faster audit sound to you?

→ Read or watch this case study on a cloud data protection software company that had 1 week to get a full Rev 5 ATO package ready or risk their FedRAMP High status. (Spoiler: They had their new docs within 3.5 hours.)
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Is SSP Automation an Option for Your Org?

We’re not afraid to say it — making a huge change in your process, especially this close to the deadline, can seem terrifying. You cannot afford to waste time trying on new methods that may not work for you.

Only you can know if the automation process fits the budget and scope of your Rev 5 process. Below we’ll answer the most common questions we get so you can decide if you are a candidate for SSP automation.

→ Ready to see it for yourself? Sign up for a free, no risk demo so you can see Paramify in action.

1- Does Automation Actually Save Time?

Automating your SSP means making a change. You’ve already spent an unholy amount of time creating an SSP. Changing it seems like it could take even more time. And who has that to spare?

Fortunately, switching to an automated SSP only takes hours to days and has saved many Paramify users hundreds of painful hours adjusting for new, dropped, or moved controls.

There are 2 ways to get automated:

Recreate your SSP completely with a quick intake process. This path will produce a higher quality, more accurate SSP.
Have our software ingest your old SSP. This method will require more time and effort on your part.

Either of these options will still get you transitioned to Rev 5 much faster and more accurately than doing it manually.

→ Schedule a free demo to preview your automated SSP

2- How Does Paramify Automate the SSP?

An SSP automated with Paramify is easier to create, manage, and update because of our Risk Solutions platform.

A Risk Solution is a security capability that maps to many requirements. Paramify keeps a library of vetted Risk Solutions that are audited and certified many times over.

You can use these solutions as-is, customize them, or write your own.

And imagine this: you can stop copying and pasting. Feel free to take a break from reading to giggle joyfully at the very thought.

You back?

Just in time for more good news.

With Paramify, your new SSP will also

Be easy to update beyond Rev 5. Going forward, you can make any change or adjustment and automatically apply it everywhere it’s relevant.
Be more accurate than ever before, saving you time in audit and correcting mistakes.
Enable better project management across your organization

→ Learn more details about how Risk solutions work

How Much Does it Cost to Automate Compliance Documentation?

Our price ranges from $8,500 - $60,000 per year. What you’ll spend will depend on the type of data you need to protect and whether you need to self-host it.

Low impact data: $8,500 - $15,000 per year
Moderate to high impact data: $23,000 - $60,000 per year

→ Learn more about Paramify’s pricing or request a free assessment for a customized quote for your ATO package(s).

What's the Format for Paramify's Automated Docs?

There are pros and cons to both human-readable and digital, OSCAL-based compliance documentation.

We believe you deserve the benefits of both, without spending more, so your automated ATO package(s) includes:

A human-readable version
An OSCAL-based digital version

FYI: We expect to see even greater advantages to adopting a digital ATO in the very near future. FedRAMP is now doing a digital package pilot saying,

“This is a significant and necessary step towards accepting digital authorization packages as part of achieving a FedRAMP authorization.” - Fedramp.gov

How Do Automated ATOs Perform in Audit?

No one deserves the torture of being stuck in the endless audit, correction, audit, correction merry go round.

Automation dramatically reduces the human error that’s inevitable with manual processes.

Mike Parisi, Head of Client Acquisition at Schellman says it this way,

“Paramify has helped organizations, many of which are our clients, automate the creation of documentation packages . . . faster and more accurately than I have ever seen in the marketplace to date.”

Hit Your Rev 5 Deadline With Confidence

Deadlines are approaching — fast. Don’t put your status at risk.

Whether you choose to transition manually or opt to automate the process, we wish you the best in reaching your FedRAMP goals.

If you’re ready to learn more or want to get started automating your SSP, you can schedule your free, 30-60 minutes intake session with the Paramify team today. At the end of your session you’ll receive

Rev 5 ATO package preview
Tailor-Made Risk Solution Set
Security gap assessment
Roadmap with next steps

If you have any questions about Paramify or transitioning to Rev 5, feel free to reach out to contact@paramify.com.

Learn more:

→ Are manual or automated compliance docs best for your organization?

→ Which controls have been added, moved, or dropped in the NIST 800-53 Rev 5 Update?

→ The most common reasons security measures fail.

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Becki Johnson

Sep 2024

Once authorized, can I sell to any federal agency?

Yes — authorization can be reused by multiple agencies via the FedRAMP Marketplace, but some agencies may request additional requirements.

How is FedRAMP 20x different from traditional FedRAMP?

20x introduces automation, key security indicators (KSIs), continuous monitoring validation, and streamlined authorization (sometimes without sponsor requirements).

→ Compare KSIs to Rev 5 controls

What are the most common reasons for delays or failures in FedRAMP authorization?

Incomplete documentation, insufficient evidence, failing initial gap assessments, lack of executive support, and underestimating resource requirements.

→ How to create the most accurate documentation for audit success

What's the difference between FedRAMP and other frameworks (SOC 2, CMMC, ISO 27001)?

FedRAMP is U.S. government-specific and NIST-based, more prescriptive and granular than commercial standards.

How do inherited controls from my cloud infrastructure provider (e.g., AWS, Azure, GCP) work?

FedRAMP allows CSPs to “inherit” controls from IaaS providers; you must document and verify this inheritance with shared responsibility models.

What kind of technical controls are required under FedRAMP?

Controls follow NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 (with additional FedRAMP overlays) — covering access control, incident response, risk assessment, configuration management, etc.

→ Get your custom accelerated FedRAMP implementation roadmap

How often do I need to update and submit security documentation?

At minimum:

Monthly POAMs and vulnerability scans
Annual security assessments
Ad hoc submissions for significant changes.

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What is a POA&M?

Plan of Action and Milestones: a document tracking remediation plans for open vulnerabilities, findings, and compliance issues.

→ Learn more about POAMs

What is continuous monitoring (ConMon) and why is it important?

ConMon involves ongoing assessments, vulnerability scanning, reporting POAMs, and keeping security posture current post-authorization.

What documentation is required for FedRAMP?

Major deliverables include a System Security Plan (SSP), Security Assessment Plan (SAP), Security Assessment Report (SAR), Plan of Actions and Milestones (POA&M), Continuous Monitoring (ConMon) documentation, policies/procedures, and more.

Do I need an agency sponsor?

Yes, for now. But, agency sponsorship requirements are evolving — FedRAMP 20x does not require a sponsor.

How do I pick the best 3PAO for my project?

Consider experience with similar environments, references, price, and knowledge of specific cloud implementations.

→ Find the best assessor for your CSP with these tips

What is a 3PAO?

A Third Party Assessment Organization is an accredited independent assessor that conducts key security testing and assessment for FedRAMP.

→ Find a recommended 3PAO

How much does FedRAMP Authorization cost?

Initial costs range from ~$150k to $3M+ for gap assessments, remediation, 3PAO audits, and documentation/reporting.
Annual costs can range from $50k to $1m to maintain documentation, do continuous monitoring, and resource allocation.

→ Learn more about what FedRAMP could cost your organization and whether or not it’s worth the effort

How long does it take to achieve FedRAMP Authorization?

Typical processes take 6–24 months. Paramify accelerates the process to take between 1-10 months with a fully prepared package in less than a month.

Your timeline will vary depending on your impact level, whether you take a manual or automated approach to implementation & documentation, and PMO wait times.

→ Learn about the FedRAMP Authorization process and what it costs.

What’s the difference between FedRAMP Ready, FedRAMP In Process, and FedRAMP Authorized?

Ready: Preliminary review for capability and documentation.
In Process: CSP is actively working toward authorization, usually with an agency sponsor or as part of the JAB program.‍
Authorized: Successfully completed security assessment and continuous monitoring.

What are the different impact levels for FedRAMP?

Low, Moderate, and High — based on the type and sensitivity of federal data hosted (FIPS 199 categories: confidentiality, integrity, availability).

→ Get the details on impact level to know which impact level is right for you.

Do You Need FedRAMP?

Any cloud service provider (CSP) that wants to sell cloud products or services to U.S. federal agencies must be FedRAMP authorized.

→ Learn more to find out if FedRAMP is a good choice for your cloud-based business.

What is FedRAMP

FedRAMP stands for the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program; it standardizes the security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by U.S. federal agencies.

How long will it take to generate my SSP?

If you’re new to FedRAMP: The time required depends on how long it takes to implement your security controls. With Paramify’s living gap assessment dashboard, you can build your compliance roadmap and generate documents instantly with one click.

If you’re already FedRAMP authorized: It can take as little as 3.5 hours or up to a week.

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Can you help me transition from NIST 800-53 Rev 4 to Rev 5?

Yes! No one will help you transition to FedRAMP Rev 5 as affordably and painlessly as Paramify. Learn how you can make a seamless, inexpensive transition to Rev 5.

Can I really generate my SSP in hours?

Are your security controls in place and do you have the certifications and authorizations you need? Then yes, hours it is.

Here’s how one company got their SSP in 3.5 hours.

If you’re in an earlier stage, you may have some security controls in place, but aren’t quite sure which controls need to be satisfied to meet your compliance goals.

Paramify will help you find the gaps in your security program and help you coordinate with your team to address them.

After our intake, you can print your documents at any point. How quickly you can implement your security goals is the only factor in how long it will take you to have a fully accurate and complete SSP.

Do Paramify ATO packages pass audits?

A well-known 3PAO has told us that our customers “are better prepared than other CSPs.”

Our customers have received positive feedback on the accuracy and consistency of their ATO Packages. The Risk Solutions methodology has also been successful at increasing the efficiency and ease of the auditing process.

So yes, the audits are going well.

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Can I use my existing SSP?

Yes, we offer this service and have provided it for many clients. Most of our customers, including those for whom we’ve ingested their SSP, have found that starting from scratch and adopting the full power of Risk Solutions was the better option.

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