FedRAMP Authorization Cost2026 Calculator
Calculate your full FedRAMP authorization budget by impact level, security posture, and organization size. Covers documentation, 3PAO assessment, remediation, and continuous monitoring.
FedRAMP Authorization Cost Calculator
Estimate total authorization costs by impact level, security posture, and organization size
Moderate is the most common authorization path for commercial cloud SaaS products
Organizations with an existing SOC 2 Type II report typically save 30-40% on remediation
Larger organizations have more complex SSPs and higher 3PAO assessment fees
Documentation
$120k
Policies, procedures, and control documentation
SSP Development
$200k
System Security Plan authoring and review
3PAO Assessment
$400k
Third-party assessor organization fees
Remediation
$200k
Gap closure, control implementation, testing
POA&M Management
$50k
Plan of Action and Milestones tracking
Ongoing Monitoring (yr 1)
$150k
ConMon reporting, vulnerability scanning, incidents
Estimated Total (Authorization + Year 1 ConMon)
$1.1M
Then approximately $260k per year for continuous monitoring
FedRAMP Authorization Paths
Following FISMA modernization, there are two primary authorization paths. The cost structure is similar, but timelines and agency relationships differ.
Agency Authorization
Most common- Partnered with a specific federal agency sponsor
- Agency AO issues the Authority to Operate (ATO)
- Authorization is reused by other agencies via FedRAMP Marketplace
- Typically 12-18 months for Moderate
- Agency sponsor may contribute resources to assessment
FedRAMP PMO Authorization
Board review- Reviewed directly by the FedRAMP Board
- No single agency sponsor required
- Higher bar for initial acceptance into the program
- Suitable for broadly applicable services without a ready sponsor
- Timeline similar to agency path once review begins
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does FedRAMP authorization cost?
Low authorization: $350k-$500k. Moderate: $800k-$2M. High: $2.5M+. These figures include documentation, 3PAO assessment, remediation, and year one continuous monitoring.
What is a 3PAO and how much does it cost?
A 3PAO (Third Party Assessment Organization) independently tests your security controls. 3PAO fees for Moderate typically run $350,000-$650,000 depending on system complexity.
How long does FedRAMP authorization take?
Typically 12-18 months for Moderate via the Agency Authorization path. High impact can extend to 24 months. See the timeline page for a phase-by-phase breakdown.
What is the ongoing cost after FedRAMP authorization?
Annual ConMon costs for Moderate typically run $150,000-$350,000/year, covering monthly vulnerability scans, annual pen testing, POA&M management, and incident reporting.
Does having SOC 2 reduce FedRAMP costs?
SOC 2 does not reduce 3PAO fees but substantially reduces remediation costs for organizations with 40-60% of NIST 800-53 controls already in place.
What is the difference between Low, Moderate, and High impact?
Low covers limited-sensitivity systems (up to 125 controls). Moderate covers most federal SaaS (325+ controls). High covers critical/law enforcement data (421+ controls).