Navigate the Federal Information Security Modernization Act with confidence. We handle your entire NIST RMF lifecycle — from gap assessment to Authority to Operate (ATO) — so your agency or contractor can focus on mission delivery.
Our teams across the US, UK, Singapore, and India support clients through every timezone and regulatory context.
FISMA (Federal Information Security Modernization Act, 2014) is the primary U.S. federal law governing information security for government agencies and their contractors. It requires all federal systems to undergo a formal security categorization, risk assessment, and authorization process using the NIST Risk Management Framework (NIST RMF).
With OMB mandating annual FISMA reporting and the Biden-era Cybersecurity Executive Order (EO 14028) still in full effect, FISMA compliance has never been more scrutinized — especially for cloud systems requiring FedRAMP authorization.
Who Must Comply with FISMA?
All federal executive branch agencies, all federal contractors and vendors processing government data, cloud service providers hosting federal workloads (via FedRAMP), and state/local agencies receiving federal IT funding. FISMA non-compliance can result in loss of contract, mandatory audit, or complete system shutdown.
FISMA vs. FedRAMP — What’s the Difference?
FISMA applies broadly to all federal information systems and is assessed internally or by a Third Party Assessment Organization (3PAO). FedRAMP is a FISMA-based program specifically for cloud services sold to the government — requiring 3PAO certification. Our consultants handle both pathways seamlessly.
A structured, transparent process that takes you from initial categorization to signed ATO — covering all six steps of the NIST Risk Management Framework with zero guesswork.
We align your security governance, risk management strategy, and executive reporting to FISMA requirements at the enterprise level.
Security is embedded into your mission functions, business processes, and supply chain risk management practices.
Every individual system is categorized, controlled, assessed, authorized, and continuously monitored — producing your Authority to Operate package.
A transparent, structured workflow that gives your organization confidence and clarity at every stage — from initial scoping to continuous monitoring and re-authorization.
System security categorization per FIPS 199 & NIST SP 800-60. Define system boundary.
Identify applicable NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 controls based on impact level (Low/Mod/High).
Implement security controls and document in System Security Plan (SSP).
Security Control Assessment (SCA) by our independent assessors. SAR produced.
Authorizing Official (AO) reviews POAM + SAR and issues Authority to Operate.
Ongoing continuous monitoring, monthly reporting, and POAM management.
Achieving FISMA certification requires more than a checklist — it demands deep federal experience, independent assessment authority, and cross-framework alignment. Here’s why 300+ organizations choose us.
Our lead auditors hold FedRAMP 3PAO authorization and FISSP credentials, ensuring audit independence that satisfies OMB and agency ISSOs.
From SSP drafting to POA&M remediation and final ATO package submission — we manage the entire authorization lifecycle.
We’ve supported systems across DoD, HHS, DHS, DoE, NASA, and GSA — including IL4, IL5, and IL6 classified environments.
Map FISMA controls to CMMC, HIPAA, FedRAMP, and ISO 27001 simultaneously — eliminating redundant audit efforts and saving cost.
Offices in D.C., Northern Virginia, and London. Virtual assessment capability for all continental U.S. time zones and overseas deployments.
Our proprietary FISMA FastTrack™ methodology reduces ATO timelines from 18+ months to as few as 12 weeks for moderate-impact systems.
Every federal agency and contractor has unique risk posture and mission needs. Our modular FISMA consulting services adapt to your timeline, budget, and impact level — from initial assessment to continuous authorization.
Rapid baseline evaluation of your current security posture against NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 and FIPS 199 requirements. Ideal first step before any ATO effort.
Independent Security Control Assessment (SCA) conducted by our CISSP/CAP-certified assessors — producing the Security Assessment Report (SAR) required for ATO.
Full-service Authority to Operate (ATO) package development and coordination with your Authorizing Official (AO) — our most popular FISMA service.
Structured Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) management to track, remediate, and close audit findings within OMB deadlines.
Ongoing FISMA continuous monitoring to maintain your ATO and satisfy OMB’s quarterly reporting requirements — without hiring full-time federal security staff.
Embed a seasoned Information System Security Officer (ISSO) into your team on a fractional basis — ideal for small agencies and contractors without dedicated security staff.
Speak with our FISMA-certified consultants today. We’ll assess your current posture, clarify your ATO pathway, and provide an efficient, cost-effective compliance plan — no jargon, no fluff.
Answers to the questions we hear most from federal agencies, contractors, and cloud service providers embarking on their FISMA compliance journey.
FISMA is the overarching law; FedRAMP is a program built on FISMA/NIST standards specifically for cloud services sold to the federal government. All FedRAMP systems are FISMA-compliant, but not all FISMA systems are FedRAMP authorized.
A typical FISMA Moderate ATO takes 12–18 months without expert support. With AuditShield's FastTrack™ methodology, we routinely achieve Moderate ATOs in 12 weeks and High-impact ATOs in 20–24 weeks.
A FISMA audit (Security Control Assessment / SCA) evaluates whether your implemented controls meet NIST 800-53A requirements. It produces a Security Assessment Report (SAR), Plan of Action & Milestones (POA&M), and supports your ATO determination.
Absolutely. There is significant control overlap between FISMA/NIST 800-53 and CMMC 2.0/NIST 800-171. Our dual-pathway assessments allow DoD contractors to achieve both certifications simultaneously, significantly reducing time and cost.
If you hold a federal contract, process, store, or transmit federal information, or operate IT systems on behalf of a federal agency, FISMA compliance is mandatory — regardless of company size or contract value.
FISMA requires implementation of NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5 controls — 20 control families covering access control, audit, configuration management, incident response, and more. The exact controls depend on your FIPS 199 impact level (Low, Moderate, or High).
FISMA does not mandate a fixed re-authorization cycle, but OMB guidance requires continuous monitoring with ongoing authorization. Most agencies require formal ATO review every 3 years or upon significant system changes.
FISMA ConMon means ongoing automated scanning, monthly vulnerability reporting, annual control assessments, and real-time incident reporting to US-CERT. Our ConMon-as-a-Service handles all of this — keeping your ATO active and your system secure.
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