Posted on November 12, 2025November 12, 2025 by loricrooks

How Long Does It Really Take to Get FedRAMP Authorized?

The Honest Truth About the FedRAMP Timeline

If you’ve started looking into FedRAMP authorization, you’ve probably seen a wide range of answers about how long it takes—everything from “six months” to “two years.”

Both are technically true.

The real answer depends on one key factor: how ready your organization actually is.

FedRAMP authorization isn’t a checkbox—it’s a rigorous, multi-phase process designed to prove that your cloud service meets federal security standards. But with the right preparation, you can significantly shorten the timeline (and save yourself a lot of frustration).

Let’s break down what the timeline really looks like—and how to get to “Authorized” without losing your momentum.

The FedRAMP Timeline at a Glance

Here’s a realistic look at what most companies experience:

Phase	Estimated Duration	What Happens
1. Readiness & Strategy	2–3 months	Define your authorization path (Agency vs. JAB), assess your current posture, and identify control gaps.
2. Documentation & Implementation	4–6 months	Write or refine your System Security Plan (SSP), implement missing controls, and gather supporting evidence.
3. Third-Party Assessment (3PAO)	2–3 months	Your 3PAO conducts the official FedRAMP assessment—expect testing, interviews, and detailed reviews.
4. Remediation & Submission	1–2 months	Address any 3PAO findings and finalize your submission package.
5. Authorization & Continuous Monitoring	1–2 months (initial approval)	FedRAMP reviews your submission, issues your ATO (Authorization to Operate), and sets up ongoing monitoring.

Total estimated time: 10–16 months on average.

Of course, your mileage may vary. Mature security programs can move faster; teams starting from scratch should plan for extra time.

What Slows Companies Down

There’s a pattern to why FedRAMP projects stall. We’ve seen it enough times to call out the usual suspects:

1. Weak Documentation: Your System Security Plan (SSP) is the backbone of your FedRAMP package—and it’s massive. Teams that underestimate the effort to write or align policies usually find themselves in rewrite purgatory.

2. Unclear Ownership: FedRAMP touches nearly every corner of your organization: engineering, product, compliance, legal, and even sales. Without clear ownership, things slip through the cracks and deadlines drift.

3. Late Discovery of Control Gaps: Finding out mid-process that you’re missing key controls—like multi-factor authentication for admins or encryption standards—can set you back months. Early readiness assessments are the antidote.

4. Underestimating Evidence Collection: Auditors need proof, not promises. Gathering screenshots, logs, and configuration data takes longer than most teams expect.

5. Shifting Priorities: FedRAMP doesn’t pause for product launches or new customer demands. When priorities shift, the timeline stretches.

How Readiness Assessments Accelerate the Process

A FedRAMP Readiness Assessment is like a preflight check before takeoff—it surfaces everything that could cause turbulence later.

Here’s how it saves you time (and sanity):

1. Early Gap Identification: You’ll know exactly where your system falls short before you’re paying a 3PAO to tell you.

2. Streamlined Documentation: Readiness work helps you structure your SSP correctly from the start—so you’re not rewriting massive sections under deadline pressure.

3. Prioritized Remediation Plan: Not every gap needs to be fixed at once. A readiness partner helps you focus on the critical few that truly move the needle toward authorization.

4. Fewer Surprises During the 3PAO Assessment: The assessment should confirm your preparedness—not expose new problems. Readiness helps make that happen.

5. Shorter FedRAMP Timeline Overall: Companies that invest in readiness can often shave 3–6 months off their total timeline.

In short: readiness pays for itself.

Case Study: How Alation Streamlined Its SSP in Record Time

Even with a skilled internal team, FedRAMP documentation can feel like an uphill climb. That’s where expert guidance makes all the difference.

At Alation, Head of Security Elaine Atkinson partnered with Cadra’s own Lori Crooks to develop their System Security Plan over the course of just eight weeks—a process that typically takes several months.

“I worked with Lori Crooks to develop our System Security Plan for FedRAMP at Alation over the course of about 8 weeks. Not only was she extremely pleasant to work with and showed up to every call with positive energy– but she proved to be a deep expert in translating NIST control language into plain English so that our team could scope our follow-up tasks to close gaps. Lori’s efficiency and expertise made a very heavy lift into a pleasure, and I would gladly work with her again.”
— Elaine Atkinson, Head of Security, Alation

This is what happens when readiness meets the right expertise. Alation didn’t just write an SSP—they built a clear, actionable foundation for their FedRAMP journey.

What You Can Do Right Now

If FedRAMP authorization is on your roadmap (or looming deadline), here are three smart steps to take:

Start with a Readiness Assessment. You’ll uncover the real timeline and know exactly what to fix.
Designate a FedRAMP Lead. Whether it’s internal or external, someone needs to own the process from start to finish.
Align Your Policies and Practices Early. Don’t wait for the 3PAO to find gaps—close them during readiness.

The sooner you get your house in order, the smoother your audit (and your stress levels) will be.

The Bottom Line

So—how long does FedRAMP take?

Realistically, anywhere from 10 to 16 months.

But the difference between the short end and the long haul isn’t luck—it’s preparation.

Companies that invest in readiness, clear ownership, and clean documentation don’t just get authorized faster—they stay compliant longer.

FedRAMP isn’t for the faint of heart. But with the right partner, it doesn’t have to be a slog, either.

Ready to find out where you stand? Book a Call with Cadra to discuss your FedRAMP certification timeline.

We’ll help you map the fastest, smartest path to “Authorized.”