Manually Writing SSPs is Outdated: Save Time and Money With Automated Compliance Documents

The Pitfalls of Manually Writing SSPs Using Templates

Expensive and Frustrating

Manually writing hundreds of pages of compliance documentation is not only boring, but also very expensive. The costs can go well over $150,000.

Do you really want to spend hundreds of hours filling out documents and spreadsheets? And those frequent Word crashes during team collaborations sure hurt morale and productivity.

There must be a smarter, more accurate and efficient way to tackle this colossal task.

"We spend a majority of our time filling out spreadsheets and generating control language. There’s gotta be a better way to do this. There is no reason we should be using spreadsheets to fill out templates." FedRAMP Security Consultant

Manual Methods Are Redundant and Inefficient

Security systems constantly evolve. By the time you’ve documented your controls, changes have already occurred.

The changes will affect many controls, sometimes dozens, so updating them by hand takes time and leads to errors.

Late nights, bleeding eyes, endless spreadsheets. Let us help put this pain to an end.

Manual SSPs Are Never Truly Up-to-Date

Systems change frequently, making your freshly-minted SSP obsolete almost immediately.

Updating these documents by hand takes a lot of time. It's hard to keep them up to date, and it's inefficient and risky.

Slow FedRAMP PMO Reviews

Here we are in the 2020s, and it's astonishing that most of us manage our SSPs using DOCX files and Google Forms, some of which can stretch beyond 900 pages.

These antiquated methods are notorious for causing computer crashes and slow loading times.

The aftermath?

Lengthy wait times when submitting these documents for FedRAMP PMO reviews.

All is not bleak. Thanks to the pioneering team at NIST, we have the Open Security Controls Assessment Language (OSCAL). This transformative approach promises a brighter, more efficient future.

However, there is a problem. Using OSCAL can be difficult if you don't have expert talent with bandwidth, expertise, and engineering skills in-house.

Enter Paramify ...

The Benefits of SSP Automation Software

Easy Intake Process:

Replace the mind-numbing and miserable data entry process required with SSP templates with Paramify’s simple intake session.

It only takes 30 - 60 minutes. Seriously.

Strategic Focus:

You don't have much time to work on improving your security program strategy when you have to do a lot of manual documentation.

With automated documents and Risk Solutions tailored for your organization, you can spend your time and effort actually improving your security posture.

Efficiency:

Create OSCAL-based SSPs quickly and inexpensively.

→ Learn how our customers can generate complete ATO packages in 3.5 hours.

Accuracy:

‍Minimize human error with automated document generation. Our platform adapts to your evolving environment, ensuring your compliance documents remain accurate.

Faster Assessments & PMO Reviews (FedRAMP):

Machine-readable SSPs in OSCAL format ensure quicker reviews and approvals from the FedRAMP PMO.

→ Learn more about OSCAL.

Tailored Risk Solutions:

We offer custom Risk Solutions compliance deliverables that meet your specific needs. These battle-tested solutions are effective for organizations at any impact level, from FedRAMP Li-SaaS to FedRAMP High. They also meet the DoD Addendum requirements.

Learn about Risk Solutions:

What Customers Say About Paramify

"We used Paramify to quickly assemble and generate three different FedRAMP packages as well as the DoD IL5 addendum. Paramify is an integral part of our FedRAMP process..." Palo Alto Networks, Gov Certifications

"Paramify's approach is brutally efficient: simple to maintain, easy to understand, and rapid to deploy." Aumni, CTO & Founder

Sound too good to be true? Schedule a Free Demo Today!

Reach out with any questions or set up your free demo to experience the potential of the Risk Solutions Platform firsthand.

You'll learn:

How to generate more accurate compliance documentation at a fraction of the cost
The benefits of a security first approach
How fast and easy it is to get an OSCAL-based digital package

Want to learn more first? Check out our pricing or request a video demo below:

‍

Learn More:

→ What is Paramify

→ How one company built their ATO package in less than 4 hours

‍

Watch:

Adam Johnson

A 15 year veteran in software development, product marketing and product management. He's now specializing in Cybersecurity and Compliance.‍ A family man at heart, Adam enjoys biking, soccer, and traveling with his wife and three kids.

Mar 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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍

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.

‍