What is GovRAMP and How It Benefits Governments

State and local government agencies are becoming increasingly aware of cybersecurity risks that can disrupt operations or expose their staff and residents’ data. Cyberattacks like data breaches or ransomware can target a government directly through its IT infrastructure, or indirectly through its digital supply chain.

To help mitigate cybersecurity risks, many agencies seek third-party cloud suppliers that comply with robust cybersecurity standards, such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) framework. However, it can be hard to know which vendors meet those standards.

The good news is that the Government Risk and Authorization Management Program (GovRAMP) provides that assurance. Cloud vendors that are verified by GovRAMP have security controls in place that align with the NIST framework.

Whether you’re new to GovRAMP or actively vetting GovRAMP vendors, this blog will cover some key topics, including the basics of GovRAMP and how it relates to other security frameworks and reports like Federal Risk and Authorization Program (FedRAMP), System and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2), and NIST Rev. 5. You’ll also learn some tips on how to evaluate a GovRAMP provider at different verification stages.

What is GovRAMP (formerly StateRAMP)?

GovRAMP, formerly known as StateRAMP is a nonprofit organization that launched in 2021, with membership open to state, local, and education (SLED) organizations and their cloud service providers.

On February 14, 2025, StateRAMP rebranded itself to GovRAMP, reflecting the scope of its mission, which extends state, local, tribal, and education governments, with collaboration opportunities across the broader public sector. The organization’s legal name will continue to be StateRAMP but will operate under the name GovRAMP. At the time of writing, government agencies may see both names used in the organization’s communications.

Its mission is to support its members through cybersecurity education, advocacy, and policy development, while also improving the cyber posture of state and local governments. This mission helps reduce the burdens on governments and provides a “verify once, serve many” model that saves dollars for both taxpayers and service providers. The organization’s verification model is used to vet and verify cloud-based providers that meet its stringent security requirements, which were built on the NIST framework.

GovRAMP maintains a growing list of service providers that have achieved a verified status and participating SLED organizations that have adopted its cybersecurity standards.

Distinction between GovRAMP Core, Ready, and Authorized

GovRAMP Core, Ready, and Authorized are three different statuses service providers can obtain at different stages in the GovRAMP verification process. Service providers with a GovRAMP Core status have completed a baseline review aligned to NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, providing governments with an entry-level assurance of security posture. Core serves as the first step in the GovRAMP verification process. Service providers with a GovRAMP Ready status have demonstrated mature documentation and initial 3PAO validation but must still undergo additional security and system validation before achieving full authorization. Service providers with a GovRAMP Authorized status have completed all required validation steps, including continuous monitoring, and the government has accepted the provider’s Security Package.

GovRAMP vs FedRAMP vs NIST vs SOC 2

Since GovRAMP is a younger organization, many government leaders may be unfamiliar with its standards and how it relates to FedRAMP, NIST, or a SOC 2 report. Let’s dig into each.

NIST

NIST is a federal agency that drives innovation in numerous topics including artificial intelligence (AI), manufacturing, and cybersecurity. The agency also develops cybersecurity standards, such as NIST SP 800-53 Rev. 5, a comprehensive framework of security and privacy controls for information systems and organizations.

NIST itself does not offer proof of compliance with its cybersecurity framework. That’s why verification programs such as GovRAMP become so valuable for local governments to assess their vendors.

FedRAMP

FedRAMP is a federal program that provides government agencies with a standardized approach for assessing and monitoring cloud technologies. Its mission is to ensure that federal agencies are partnering with secure cloud service providers that meet strict standards.

A FedRAMP authorization means that a provider has met certain qualifications that were built on the NIST framework.

SOC 2

The SOC 2 report is a valuable tool for assessing a vendor’s controls related to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy. Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 follows the Trust Services Criteria rather than NIST controls. While it provides important insights into a vendor’s security posture, it differs from more rigorous compliance frameworks like GovRAMP and FedRAMP, which are based on NIST standards and require continuous monitoring and authorization processes. It’s also important to verify that the scope of the SOC 2 report includes the actual application or service being provided—not just the data center or cloud infrastructure vendor the organization is using. Otherwise, the report may not adequately reflect the security and privacy controls relevant to the specific system you are relying on.

Evaluating GovRAMP vs. FedRAMP

GovRAMP and FedRAMP verifications are both built on NIST-based frameworks, but they serve different types of organizations. NIST SP 800-53, Rev. 5 is used as a baseline for both programs, but neither adopts it as a rigid standard. Each organization tailors its requirements to meet the unique needs of state and federal agencies. Government leaders should understand these distinctions and why achieving GovRAMP can be a strategic choice when evaluating cloud service providers for state and local government needs.

Here are a few differences between GovRAMP and FedRAMP:

• Mission and Purpose: GovRAMP was established to support state and local governments through cybersecurity education, advocacy, and policy development. The organization provides a standardized approach so providers that serve state and local governments can verify their security postures. FedRAMP was created by the U.S. government in 2011 and only authorizes cloud service providers (CSPs) that serve federal clients. FedRAMP standardizes and streamlines the security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring process for CSPs. Not all providers serve federal clients and therefore cannot obtain FedRAMP authorization, so GovRAMP steps in and fills the gap to provide an equivalent assurance of cybersecurity compliance.
• Visibility: State and local governments can view GovRAMP documentation, which gives insight into their vendors’ continuous monitoring data and current security postures. Security documentation from FedRAMP is only visible to the federal agencies that are working with the providers.
• Level of Support: GovRAMP’s Project Management Office (PMO) serves as a shared resource between providers and government agencies. The PMO supports these entities through activities such as creating processes for GovRAMP compliance, prioritizing authorization requests, and implementing a secure credentialing management system. FedRAMP’s PMO acts as a reviewing body, with a different scope of engagement.
• Due Diligence Requirements: A GovRAMP status typically eases the due diligence burden for many state and local governments because the organization has already vetted the vendor. In turn, this may allow the government agency to adopt and implement the vendor more quickly.

FedRAMP and GovRAMP are both reputable programs that will attest to a cloud vendor’s strong cybersecurity practices. A GovRAMP status can be especially beneficial for state and local governments that are seeking a quick and easy way to vet a cloud vendor.

GovRAMP Verification Benefits: Strengthening Government Security

Partnering with a GovRAMP vendor helps support cloud security compliance for state and local governments. Here’s a closer look at the key benefits of GovRAMP Verification:

• Enhanced Security Standards: Adherence to NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) 800-53 Rev. 5 security controls.
• Continuous Monitoring: Ongoing verification helps identify vulnerabilities so they can be addressed promptly, maintaining high levels of security.
• Transparency and Trust: Governments gain greater visibility into vendor security practices, enabling informed decision-making.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identifies and reduces risks associated with cybersecurity threats.

Questions to Ask a GovRAMP Vendor

When comparing two or more cloud vendors, GovRAMP can be a helpful deciding factor. A vendor that is GovRAMP Core, Ready, or Authorized has demonstrated a commitment to mature security practices. When assessing a vendor, government leaders should consider asking questions, such as:

• Which products are verified? GovRAMP verification is provided at the product or service level, not the vendor as a whole. It’s important to assess products individually to confirm their GovRAMP statuses.
• Which security controls are in place? For products that are not yet verified through GovRAMP, what security controls have been implemented to protect your data?
• Is there application-level security? Ensure the evaluation goes beyond data centers by including application-level controls. Verify secure development practices, access management, data protection, and vulnerability management within the product itself — not just the hosting environment.
• Are you meeting GovRAMP Standards? Do your non-GovRAMP products follow the same internal security policies and practices as those under GovRAMP?
• Have you implemented NIST 800-53 Rev. 5? Rev. 5 expands on areas like privacy, cloud, DevSecOps, AI/ML, Supply Chain Risk Management and zero trust, which are all relevant to modern local government systems. Rev. 5 is now a requirement for both FedRAMP and GovRAMP.
• What are the details of your infrastructure management? Do you use the same infrastructure, team, and monitoring tools across all your offerings?
• What are your processes for continuous monitoring? How do you handle continuous monitoring across all products — not just the ones under GovRAMP?

CivicPlus® GovRAMP Ready Products

CivicPlus is a trusted partner for impact-led government and offers the Civic Impact Platform, which delivers both unmatched end-to-end automated efficiency and truly unified, delightful residence experiences. Now, five products within the Civic Impact Platform are GovRAMP Ready.

Over the past several years, CivicPlus has remained steadfast in its commitment to strengthening cybersecurity resilience for local governments. By aligning our security strategy with the latest industry standards, we have implemented NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 across our enterprise, ensuring a comprehensive and proactive approach to risk management, data protection, and compliance.

This strategic initiative enables local governments to confidently navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape, safeguarding critical infrastructure, ensuring service continuity, and protecting the sensitive data of residents. By adhering to the enhanced security and privacy controls outlined in NIST 800-53 Rev. 5, CivicPlus helps municipalities mitigate cyber threats, improve incident response capabilities, and maintain public trust in their digital services. Through continuous monitoring, rigorous security assessments, and collaboration with government agencies, CivicPlus remains dedicated to evolving alongside emerging cyber risks, delivering best-in-class security solutions that empower local governments to operate securely and efficiently in the digital age.

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