FISMA
The Federal Information Security Modernization Act mandates information security programs for all US federal agencies and their contractors.
FISMA requires federal agencies to develop, document, and implement agency-wide information security programs. The law mandates use of NIST standards — primarily NIST SP 800-53 for security controls and NIST SP 800-37 for the Risk Management Framework (RMF). FISMA applies directly to federal agencies and extends to contractors and service providers that operate systems on behalf of those agencies. FedRAMP is the cloud-specific implementation of FISMA for commercial cloud services.
The FISMA RMF process has six steps: Categorize (determine impact level), Select (choose controls), Implement (build the controls), Assess (have controls tested by independent assessors), Authorize (obtain an Authority to Operate from an Authorizing Official), and Monitor (maintain continuous monitoring). For contractors, this process is typically managed through the agency's existing authorization process. For cloud services, FedRAMP authorization satisfies FISMA requirements across multiple agencies.
FISMA continuous monitoring requirements are the most demanding aspect of ongoing compliance. Agencies must maintain a current understanding of their security posture — which means automated scanning, configuration management, and vulnerability management that produces real-time or near-real-time data rather than annual point-in-time assessments. Systems built for FISMA must generate this monitoring data continuously as an operational output.
We build FISMA-compliant systems using the NIST RMF from the first architecture decision. Our teams understand the categorization process (FIPS 199), control selection from NIST 800-53, and the ATO authorization pathway for federal contractor systems. We build continuous monitoring capabilities into the deployment pipeline so compliance posture is maintained automatically rather than re-demonstrated annually.
Compliance-Native Architecture Guide
Design principles and a structured checklist for building software that is compliant by default — not compliant by retrofit. Covers data architecture, access controls, audit trails, and vendor due diligence.