Fedramp moderate baseline

FedRAMP Moderate Baseline

Overview

This skill implements FedRAMP Moderate authorization readiness and assessment workflows aligned to NIST SP 800-53 Revision 5 (September 2020, updated per FedRAMP baselines). FedRAMP Moderate applies to cloud systems where loss of confidentiality, integrity, or availability would have serious adverse effect on agency operations.

Artifact	Purpose	Primary reference
Authorization boundary	Defines system components, data flows, and trust zones	FedRAMP SSP Section 9; NIST SP 800-37 Rev 2
System Security Plan (SSP)	Documents control implementation per 800-53 Rev 5	FedRAMP SSP template (Moderate baseline)
Security Assessment Plan (SAP)	Defines assessor test procedures	FedRAMP SAP template
Security Assessment Report (SAR)	Documents findings and risk	FedRAMP SAR template
POA&M	Tracks deficiencies, milestones, risk ratings	FedRAMP POA&M template
ConMon	Ongoing vulnerability scanning, POA&M updates, annual assessment	FedRAMP ConMon Strategy Guide

Moderate baseline includes approximately 323 controls from NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5 (including enhancements where applicable). Control families span AC, AU, AT, CM, CP, IA, IR, MA, MP, PE, PL, PS, RA, CA, SC, SI, SR, and others per FedRAMP baseline documentation.

Responsibility split:

Party	Typical responsibilities
CSP (Cloud Service Provider)	Physical/data center security, hypervisor, platform controls, FedRAMP package maintenance, customer responsibility matrix
Agency customer	Identity federation configuration, data classification, endpoint protection for agency users, configuration within customer-managed layers (IaaS/PaaS/SaaS dependent)
Leveraged authorizations	Agency inherits CSP controls via FedRAMP ATO; must document customer responsibility matrix (CRM) gaps

Cross-walk: FedRAMP controls map to NIST CSF 2.0 outcomes—use nist-csf-2-assessment for executive profiles; this skill produces FedRAMP-specific authorization artifacts.

Reference documents: FedRAMP.gov, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, NIST SP 800-37 Rev 2.

When to Use

Use this skill when:

• Preparing or reviewing a FedRAMP Moderate authorization package (SSP, SAP, SAR, POA&M)
• Defining or validating the authorization boundary for a cloud offering (SaaS, PaaS, IaaS)
• Assessing CSP vs agency customer control inheritance and CRM completeness
• Auditing continuous monitoring deliverables (monthly ConMon, annual assessment, significant change requests)
• Mapping 800-53 Rev 5 control implementations for federal sales or ATO inheritance
• Harmonizing FedRAMP controls with existing IAM and logging programs

Do not use this skill when:

• CMMC Level 2 / NIST SP 800-171 for CUI in defense supply chain (use cmmc-nist-800-171)
• SOX IT general controls for financial reporting (use sox-itgc-audit)
• PCI CDE or cardholder data environments (use pci-dss-network-segmentation)
• HIPAA BAA vendor legal review without FedRAMP scope (use hipaa-baa-vendor-assessment)

Core Process

Execute steps in order.

Step 1: Authorization boundary and system categorization

1. Document FIPS 199 security categorization (confidentiality, integrity, availability impact levels)—Moderate typically Moderate/Moderate/Moderate or equivalent.
2. Draw authorization boundary diagram:
   • CSP-managed infrastructure, tenant isolation, managed services
   • Customer-managed components (IdP federation, endpoints, custom configs)
   • External interfaces: API gateways, FedRAMP-approved interconnections
3. Identify leveraged services (e.g., AWS GovCloud, Azure Government) with existing FedRAMP authorizations.
4. Artifact: fedramp-boundary-{id}.json with component inventory and data flow descriptions.

Step 2: Control baseline selection and CRM

1. Load FedRAMP Moderate baseline control list (800-53 Rev 5).
2. For each control, assign implementation status per CRM:
   • CSP inherited, CSP fully responsible, Customer responsible, Shared, Not applicable (with justification)
3. Priority families for cloud audits:
   • AC (Access Control) → access-control-identity-audit
   • AU (Audit and Accountability) → audit-logging-integrity
   • IA (Identification and Authentication)
   • SC (System and Communications Protection)
   • SI (System and Information Integrity)
   • CA (Assessment, Authorization, and Monitoring)
4. Artifact: crm-matrix-{id}.csv linked to SSP Part C.

Step 3: SSP development or gap review

1. For each in-scope control, document per FedRAMP SSP format:
   • Control description and responsible role
   • Implementation narrative (how, not just policy reference)
   • Implementation status: Implemented, Partially Implemented, Planned, Alternative Implementation, Not Applicable
2. Cross-reference NIST SP 800-53A Rev 5 assessment procedures for testability of narratives.
3. Validate AI/agent components if in boundary:
   • LLM API data handling, MCP tool scopes, logging of automated decisions
   • Map to AC-3, AU-2, AU-12, SI-4, SR controls
4. Use Terraform MCP (mcp/terraform.mcp.json) for IaC evidence supporting SC and CM families.

Step 4: Access control and identity (AC, IA families)

1. Execute access-control-identity-audit Steps 1–5 against FedRAMP AC/IA control mapping:
   • AC-2 (Account Management), AC-3 (Access Enforcement), AC-6 (Least Privilege)
   • IA-2 (Identification and Authentication), IA-5 (Authenticator Management)
2. Verify PIV/CAC federation or approved alternative for agency users where CRM assigns customer responsibility.
3. Verify privileged access (PAM), MFA, and service account governance for CSP operations staff.
4. Document findings with 800-53 control IDs (e.g., AC-6(10) for privileged function restrictions).

Step 5: Audit logging and accountability (AU family)

1. Execute audit-logging-integrity against AU controls:
   • AU-2 (Event Logging), AU-3 (Content of Audit Records), AU-6 (Audit Review)
   • AU-9 (Protection of Audit Information), AU-11 (Audit Record Retention)
2. Verify logs cover authorization boundary components; centralized SIEM with tamper protection.
3. Use Postgres MCP read-only queries for log retention configuration evidence where applicable.
4. Confirm agency access to audit records per CRM and AU-6 requirements.

Step 6: Security assessment planning and testing

1. Build or review SAP with test cases mapped to 800-53A procedures.
2. Sampling methodology for Moderate: document population, sample size, pass/fail criteria.
3. Test categories:
   • Technical: vulnerability scans (authenticated), penetration testing per FedRAMP requirements
   • Operational: incident response tabletop, backup restoration
   • Administrative: policy review, training records, PS-3 personnel screening
4. Record results in SAR format with risk ratings (Low, Moderate, High per FedRAMP guidance).

Step 7: POA&M management

1. For each deficiency, create POA&M entry:
   • Weakness description, risk level, milestones, scheduled completion date, responsible official
2. Operational requirements: update POA&M at least monthly; close items only with evidence of remediation.
3. Flag high-risk open items approaching milestone breach—escalate to authorizing official.
4. Artifact: poam-{id}.yaml aligned to FedRAMP POA&M template fields.

Step 8: Continuous monitoring (ConMon)

1. Verify ConMon strategy implementation:
   • Monthly: OS/infrastructure/database vulnerability scanning; POA&M updates
   • Annual: full security assessment or continuous assessment approach per FedRAMP guidance
   • Significant change requests (SCR) for material architecture or control changes
2. Cross-ref soc2-ccm-continuous-monitoring for shared monitoring patterns (adapt to FedRAMP ConMon deliverables).
3. Integrate threat intelligence (SI-5), configuration drift detection (CM family)—compliance-as-code-governance for IaC drift scans.

Step 9: Authorization decision support and evidence packaging

1. Prepare authorization package summary for AO/Authorizing Official Designated Representative (AODR):
   • Boundary, categorization, CRM, open POA&M risk summary, ConMon status
2. Map residual gaps to NIST CSF 2.0 for executive reporting via nist-csf-2-assessment cross-walk table.
3. Package evidence with SHA-256 hashes per templates/audit-evidence-manifest.yaml.
4. Emit findings:

id: FIND-FEDRAMP-001
severity: HIGH
control_id: AU-6
observation: "No documented procedure for monthly review of privileged user audit logs"
recommendation: "Implement AU-6 review SOP with SIEM dashboard and sign-off records"
owner: ""
due_date: null
status: open

Common Rationalizations

Excuse the agent might generate	Required rebuttal
"We inherit FedRAMP from AWS/Azure, so no SSP needed."	Leveraged authorization requires CRM—customer must document inherited vs customer-implemented controls; inheritance is not blanket exemption.
"800-53 Rev 4 narratives still apply."	FedRAMP baseline is 800-53 Rev 5—control IDs, enhancements, and assessment procedures changed; remap all references.
"POA&M items can stay open indefinitely with accepted risk."	FedRAMP requires milestones and AO tracking—permanent open POA&M without AO acceptance is authorization deficiency.
"ConMon is just vulnerability scanning."	ConMon includes POA&M updates, inventory maintenance, incident reporting, significant change management—not scans alone.
"Moderate baseline is the same as SOC 2 Type II."	Overlap exists but FedRAMP artifacts, 800-53 Rev 5 baseline, CRM, and ConMon are distinct—SOC 2 report does not substitute for SSP/SAR.
"Agency customer owns all access controls."	CRM defines split—CSP must implement AC/IA for platform layers; vague CRM is a common SAR finding.

Red Flags

• Authorization boundary excludes multi-tenant isolation components or LLM/MCP data processors
• CRM marks all controls "CSP inherited" without customer responsibility documentation
• SSP narratives cite policy titles without implementation evidence (AU, AC families)
• POA&M not updated within 30 days; high-risk items past milestone without AO approval
• Vulnerability scans missing authenticated credentials or scope gaps vs boundary
• No SCR process for major releases affecting security posture
• AU-9 audit log protection inadequate (customer or operator can alter own logs)
• 800-53 Rev 4 control references in current authorization package
• ConMon deliverables missing monthly cadence evidence

Verification

• FIPS 199 categorization documented; authorization boundary diagram current
• FedRAMP Moderate baseline (800-53 Rev 5) control list loaded and scoped
• Customer Responsibility Matrix complete with inherited/shared/customer assignments
• SSP control narratives assessed for implementation status and testability
• AC/IA and AU families audited via access-control and audit-logging skills
• SAP/SAR test procedures executed with risk-rated findings documented
• POA&M current within 30 days with milestones and responsible officials
• ConMon strategy evidence: monthly scans, annual assessment, SCR process
• Cross-walk to nist-csf-2-assessment completed for executive gap reporting
• Evidence manifest complete with SHA-256 hashes and engagement ID