How Much Does a FedRAMP Assessment Cost?
The 3PAO assessment itself typically runs $80,000–$250,000 depending on impact level and boundary size. But the assessment is only part of the bill — full FedRAMP authorization commonly totals $450,000–$2,000,000+ once engineering, documentation, and continuous monitoring are included. It's the most expensive compliance program most SaaS companies will ever run.
First-Party Medians & Percentiles
Where our own marketplace data supports it, we publish the median and 25th–75th percentile range for each segment. Any segment with fewer than 5 underlying data points is withheld, not estimated — the row says so explicitly.
| Segment | Median & percentile range |
|---|---|
| FedRAMP completed transactions | Withheld — 0 samples, below our 5-sample minimum |
| FedRAMP self-reported prices (auditor reviews) | Withheld — 0 samples, below our 5-sample minimum |
| Auditor tier (Big 4 / national / boutique) | Withheld — not yet enough verified tier data to publish tier-level medians |
Data as of July 26, 2026 (live view — first quarterly snapshot pending).
Methodology: computed only from AuditNex marketplace records (test and internal traffic excluded), refreshed by quarterly snapshot. See our methodology and how we use pricing data.
What Drives Your FedRAMP Price
No two engagements cost the same. These are the factors auditors weigh most when scoping a FedRAMP price.
| Factor | Why it affects price | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Impact level (Low / Moderate / High) | Moderate requires 323 controls and High 410 — each level adds assessment days, evidence, and engineering work. | High |
| Authorization boundary size | Every system, service, and data flow inside the boundary gets assessed. A tightly scoped, single-service boundary costs dramatically less. | High |
| Cloud architecture readiness | FIPS-validated encryption, US-persons support requirements, and federal-only enclaves often force re-engineering — usually the largest cost line. | High |
| Path (Agency vs FedRAMP 20x) | A sponsoring agency's timeline and requirements shape cost; newer streamlined paths can reduce documentation burden for Low/Moderate. | Medium |
| 3PAO day rates & rework | Registered 3PAOs price by assessment scope; failed controls mean paid re-testing, so readiness quality directly moves the fee. | Medium |
What's Included — and What's Not
Usually included in the audit fee
- ✓Security assessment plan and full control testing by a registered 3PAO
- ✓Penetration testing of the authorization boundary
- ✓The Security Assessment Report (SAR) agencies rely on
Often priced separately
- –Readiness assessment / RAR ($30,000–$75,000)
- –Platform re-engineering for federal requirements (often $200,000+)
- –System Security Plan and documentation ($50,000–$150,000)
- –Continuous monitoring and annual re-assessment ($100,000+/yr)
Timeline & Renewal
FedRAMP Cost FAQ
How much does a FedRAMP assessment cost?
The 3PAO assessment typically costs $80,000–$250,000 depending on impact level (Low, Moderate, or High) and the size of your authorization boundary. Full authorization — including re-engineering, documentation, and the assessment — commonly totals $450,000–$2,000,000 or more, plus $100,000+ per year in continuous monitoring.
Why is FedRAMP so much more expensive than SOC 2 or ISO 27001?
FedRAMP Moderate requires 323 controls assessed by a registered 3PAO with federal-grade evidence, FIPS-validated encryption, and a formally defined authorization boundary. Most companies must re-engineer parts of their platform for federal requirements, and authorization comes with mandatory continuous monitoring — none of which commercial frameworks demand.
What is a 3PAO?
A Third Party Assessment Organization — an assessor accredited by A2LA under the FedRAMP program to test cloud services against FedRAMP requirements. Only a 3PAO's Security Assessment Report is accepted for authorization, and each 3PAO prices its assessments independently.
Do I need FedRAMP to sell to the government?
You need FedRAMP authorization to sell cloud services that store or process federal data to executive-branch agencies. If you sell to the Department of Defense, you may also need a DoD impact-level authorization built on top of FedRAMP. State and local governments often accept FedRAMP as a strong signal too, via StateRAMP.
How can I reduce FedRAMP cost?
Shrink the authorization boundary to the minimum set of services federal customers need, target Low or Moderate rather than High if your data allows it, fix readiness gaps before the 3PAO arrives to avoid paid re-testing, and consider inheriting controls from a FedRAMP-authorized infrastructure provider to cut both engineering and assessment scope.
Sources & methodology: Figures are publicly reported industry ranges drawn from FedRAMP PMO program guidance and published control baselines; 3PAO market quotes and readiness assessment pricing; Published FedRAMP authorization cost analyses (GSA, industry). AuditNex is a marketplace and does not set audit fees — each accredited firm prices independently. Ranges are estimates for planning only, not quotes.
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