How to Get FedRAMP and How Long it Will Really Take

The FedRAMP Certification Timeline:

There are 4 main steps to FedRAMP authorization.

Setting the Groundwork
Creating Compliance Documentation
3PAO Assessment
PMO Review

The conventional path to FedRAMP authorization ranges 8 - 24+ months.

You’ll need to manually write an SSP with this path, so you can expect that to take a good portion of your time.

If you use Paramify, you can expect authorization to take from 1-15 months.

SSP creation is automated with Paramify, so the majority of the time range will depend on how long it takes your organization to put your controls into practice and find a sponsor.

Step 1 - Setting the Groundwork (1-12+ Months)

Calculate your ROI: Does the federal pipeline justify the expense?

FedRAMP authorization can open the door to massive revenue potential.

Your organization will want to calculate whether the possible ROI justifies the costs of getting certified before diving in completely.

Your company should consider:

Potential revenue
Possible government clientele
How your product strategy aligns with government needs

Ready for some good news? it’s officially easier, faster, and cheaper to get FedRAMP authorized than it’s ever been. ‍

Find a FedRAMP Sponsor:

You’ll need to find a sponsor before you can achieve FedRAMP authorization.

“The issuance of an agency ATO represents an acceptance of risk associated with the CSO on the part of the agency’s authorizing official (AO)” - Stack Armor

Your sponsor can be any government entity that wants your product/solution and has the ability to sponsor it.

Finding a sponsor can take a lot of time and effort. It might require many hours of networking and building relationships. These can lead to a partnership with a government agency or representative from the FedRAMP board (formerly Joint Authorization Board or JAB).

Choose Your 3PAO:

Next, you’ll need to choose an accredited 3PAO (3rd-party assessment organization) to help with your FedRAMP assessments.

Finding the right 3PAO is not just about credentials, but also about compatibility, transparent communication, and mutual goals.

Feel free to reach out to contact@paramify.com if you need help finding the right partner for your goals.

Find Your Security Gaps:

You’ll need to do a security gap assessment to know whether or not your security is aligned with the high standard FedRAMP requires.

Once you know your gaps you can start improving your security plan.

Ready to fast track your gap assessment? Schedule a call with the Paramify team to get your free gap assessment in just 30-60 minutes.

You can begin implementing your security controls once you have your gap assessment. We recommend building out your security plan in the form of your SSP first to map out your ideal strategy.

Step 2 - How Long Does it Take to Create an SSP (System Security Plan)?

Manually Written SSP: 6 - 24+ months vs Paramify: 1-7 days

Ah, here’s what has been the FedRAMP nightmare. The SSP.

Organizations have traditionally had to manually write 800 to 1,000+ pages of intricately detailed System Security Plans (SSPs).

Creating an SSP isn’t just about throwing words onto a document. This painstaking process involves multiple stakeholders who are both technical and non-technical. It will include your precise data, evidence, and methodologies.

‍

The tool you choose will make a difference in how long it takes to build your ATO package.

Many CSPs choose a tool like Word, Google Docs, or SharePoint to create their SSP. But, tools like these aren’t really built to handle documents this massive.

GRC teams often experience crashes, loss of data, or sluggish performance due to the size of SSP docs. This results in wasted hours, tons of stress, and lost information.

OSCAL (Open Security Controls Assessment Language) is a machine readable format meant to address some of these problems. Learn more about the benefits and shortcomings of OSCAL to decide if it’s a good fit for your organization.

Paramify automatically creates both a machine readable, OSCAL-friendly digital ATO package and a human readable version.

Why is FedRAMP authorization so much faster with Paramify?

What used to take months of manual effort can now be done in hours with Paramify’s Risk Solutions platform.

Yup. Hours.

Why? You can create, update, and change your documents by putting the control in once and automatically updating it everywhere it applies. Your SSP(s) become more accurate & consistent and easy to update.

When you have an automated SSP you can kiss software crashes and the never ending requests from your 3PAO to fix inconsistencies goodbye. Paramify limits human error and is built to handle creating, updating, and managing your massive SSP.

→Learn more here about how Risk Solutions work and check out our pricing.

→ Request a demo to see a preview of your OSCAL and human-readable SSP docs created in less than an hour

Step 3 - How Long Does an ATO Audit Take? (1 - 3 Months)

The assessment phase means it’s time for a hands-on, careful review of your systems, controls, protocols, and procedures. Expect thorough checks and refinements.

Your assessment phase will be longer or shorter depending how accurate your SSP is.

SSP documents created with Paramify have received high praise from assessors. Our clients move faster than average through this phase because of their ultra-consistent documentation.

“Paramify has helped organizations, many of which are our clients, automate the creation of documentation packages – in addition to other capabilities – faster and more accurately than I have ever seen in the marketplace to date.” - Mike Parisi, Head of Client Acquisition, Schellman

4. How Long Does it Take to Get FedRAMP Authority to Operate from the PMO (1 - 12 months)

Now you wait for all of your effort to pay off and for your coveted FedRAMP certification to arrive.

If you only created human-readable SSPs this phase may take longer than it will with OSCAL documentation. We expect to see OSCAL docs approved faster, since the process can be automated.

If you used Paramify, you can expect an even faster PMO review since:

Fewer errors = faster review. The Paramify approach prioritizes efficiency, transparency, and accuracy.
OSCAL-based docs enable more automation.

How Long Will Your FedRAMP Authorization Take?

Your approach to FedRAMP will dramatically affect how long it will take your org to achieve FedRAMP authorization.

The traditional, manual approach will take an average of 8 months - 2+ years, depending on the dynamics and complexities of your organization.

Paramify's approach can reduce this to 1 - 15+ months.

It's no exaggeration: just one month from no SSP to a full ATO package.

→Discover how Palo Alto Networks achieved FedRAMP in a month using Paramify.

Start Your FedRAMP Journey

Ready to give yourself the advantage in FedRAMP certification? Get your gap assessment today and see a preview of your ATO Package after just 30-60 minutes.

In the world of FedRAMP certification, knowledge truly is power. The journey, while intense, doesn’t need to be full of obstacles. You’ll save time and peace of mind with Paramify’s Risk Solutions Framework.

If FedRAMP is on your radar, why not give yourself every advantage?

See Paramify in action – request to watch a video demo below:

Have questions? Our team loves to help. Feel free to reach out to contact@paramify.com anytime.

Becki Johnson

Sep 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Can compliance advisors or consultants work in Paramify with us, and does it help with managed-service models?

Absolutely. Paramify is used by many advisory partners, RPOs, and MSPs to guide, generate, and manage documentation, perform gap assessments, facilitate policy/procedure drafting, and oversee remediation activities. Advisors can fill out templates, manage controls, and generate client-ready documents.

‍

We have privacy or compliance concerns, can we restrict what external reviewers can access?

Yes, you can assign role-based access controls in Paramify. Advisors or auditors can be given access only to certain programs, assessment and their related evidence.

Sensitive information can be withheld or redacted as needed, and only authorized reviewers see specific items.

‍

Can auditors or advisory partners get direct access to our Paramify environment, or do we have to export everything for them?

Yes, Paramify allows external assessors/auditors and advisors to be invited as users, with controlled permission levels. They can review specific evidence, policies, SSPs, POA&Ms, or assessment modules without accessing broader company data.

Documentation — such as Appendix A, SSPs, procedures, and POAMs — can also be exported in multiple standard formats (Word, Excel, OSCAL, EMASS, PDF) as needed.

Can I get matched with an Advisor based on my specific needs?

Yes. You can use the Get Matched feature on our website. We will review your specific compliance goals and connect you with the partner best suited for your industry and timeline.

How do Advisors use Paramify during a FedRAMP engagement?

Advisors use Paramify to conduct Gap Assessments, map controls, Automate SSPs, and manage POA&Ms.

Instead of spending months writing Word documents, the Advisor inputs the system architecture and control implementations into Paramify, which then generates the required NIST-formatted documentation.

Does Paramify compete with its Advisors?

No. Paramify is a software company. We do not offer independent audit or long-term consulting services. Our goal is to empower Advisors with better tools so they can serve more clients effectively.

‍

What are the different partner tiers?

We feature Premier Partners prominently on our site. These are firms that have demonstrated a high level of proficiency with the Paramify platform and have successfully helped many clients through the authorization process using our tools.

How do I become an official Paramify Advisor Partner?

We look for firms with a proven track record in federal compliance. If you are interested in joining our network and leveraging our automation products, you can reach out via our contact page or schedule a demo to see how our tools fit into your workflow.

What is the benefit of using an Advisor who uses Paramify vs. one who doesn't?

Advisors using Paramify can accelerate your implementation and typically deliver documentation in a fraction of the time it takes without Paramify. This means:

Faster Implementation: An accelerated implementation roadmap keeps timelines predictable.
Lower Costs: Reduced manual consultant hours.
Higher Accuracy: Automation eliminates the "copy-paste" errors common in traditional SSPs.‍
Easier Maintenance: Your Advisor can help you manage POA&Ms and continuous monitoring within the platform.

Does working with an Advisor on this list guarantee FedRAMP or CMMC authorization?

No firm can "guarantee" authorization, as the final decision rests with the government authorizing body (e.g., the FedRAMP PMO or the DoD).

However, working with a Paramify Advisor significantly reduces the risk of documentation errors and ensures your package is built on a technically sound, automated foundation.

‍

How do I choose the right Advisor for my organization?

Our Advisor page allows you to filter partners by their specific expertise, such as FedRAMP, CMMC, FISMA, or GovRAMP.

Why does Paramify partner with Advisors?

Paramify is an “Iron Man suit” for GRC experts. We provide automation technology to generate and manage compliance documentation (like SSPs snd POA&Ms) while Advisors provide the expert human oversight and implementation expertise.

Together, we offer a "best-of-both-worlds" solution: expert consulting powered by industry-leading automation and risk management planning.

What is the Paramify Advisor Partner Network?

The Paramify Advisor Partner Network is a curated group of cybersecurity and compliance firms — including CMMC Registered Practitioner Organizations (RPOs) and accredited 3PAOs — that use Paramify’s platform to deliver faster, more accurate compliance outcomes for their clients.

I already have an advisor or very capable GRC team. Why do I need Paramify?

Use Paramify's Risk Solution platform to automate ATO packages, improving cost efficiency, speed, and accuracy. This frees your team to focus on more valuable efforts like security posture enhancement and compliance improvements.