CMMC vs FedRAMP Comparison Guide
Government contracting is one of the most heavily regulated industries in the world. Whether you build software for the Department of Defense (DoD) or host workloads for federal agencies, your organization needs to prove security maturity and control assurance.
Two frameworks dominate this landscape: CMMC and FedRAMP. Both protect sensitive government data; but they serve different ecosystems, data types, and certification models.
This guide breaks down what each framework covers, their key differences, and how to determine which one fits your organization.
What is CMMC?
The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a US Department of Defense (DoD) program that standardizes cybersecurity requirements across the Defense Industrial Base (DIB). It ensures that contractors handling Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and Federal Contract Information (FCI) maintain appropriate levels of protection.
CMMC is built on the foundation of NIST SP 800-171, with controls that scale based on the sensitivity of the data.
CMMC 2.0 Levels
CMMC applies to companies doing business with the DoD. It verifies cybersecurity maturity through independent assessment or self-attestation (depending on the level).
What is FedRAMP?
The Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) is a government-wide framework that standardizes security assessments for cloud service providers (CSPs) used by U.S. federal agencies.
It ensures that any cloud product handling federal data meets the baseline security requirements of NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5. FedRAMP defines three security impact levels: Low, Moderate, and High; that correspond to the sensitivity of the data being processed.
FedRAMP authorization can follow two paths:
Agency Authorization (A-TO): sponsored by a federal agency.
JAB Authorization (P-ATO): granted by the Joint Authorization Board (GSA, DoD, DHS).
FedRAMP governs the security posture of cloud service providers working with civilian federal agencies, while CMMC governs DoD contractors.
Key differences: CMMC vs FedRAMP
When to choose CMMC vs FedRAMP
Complyance’s control-mapping engine automatically links CMMC and FedRAMP requirements, so you can reuse evidence across frameworks and cut audit time by 70 percent.
Complyance helps Defense and Federal contractors unify CMMC and FedRAMP compliance through agentic AI; auto-mapping controls, tracking risks, and streamlining audit readiness.
Book a Demo to see how CMMC and FedRAMP can co-exist seamlessly in one platform.
FAQs
Is CMMC required for all Defense contractors? Yes. Every contract that includes CUI or FCI will eventually mandate CMMC 2.0 compliance.
Can a FedRAMP-authorized provider serve DoD clients without CMMC? Not necessarily. FedRAMP covers cloud security, but CMMC adds DoD-specific CUI controls and maturity requirements.
Are the two frameworks mutually exclusive? No. Many controls overlap through NIST SP 800-53 and 171. A FedRAMP-Moderate cloud can support CMMC Level 2 with proper scoping.
How often are re-assessments required? CMMC certification is valid for 3 years (with annual affirmation). FedRAMP requires continuous monitoring and annual package updates.
What happens if we fail CMMC or FedRAMP assessment? You must submit a Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) and remediate within defined timelines to maintain authorization eligibility.
