CMMC vs. FedRAMP: How They’re Connected (and What It Means for Contractors)

By DefenseX | November 2025 — Helping Defense Contractors Simplify Compliance and Security

If your organization is preparing for CMMC certification, you’ve probably seen references to FedRAMP and wondered how these two government frameworks fit together.

Are they the same thing? Do you need both? And why does your Microsoft 365 or cloud environment’s FedRAMP status matter for your CMMC readiness?

Let’s break it down in clear, contractor-friendly terms.

What Is FedRAMP?

FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) is a U.S. government program that standardizes security requirements for cloud service providers (CSPs).

In short, FedRAMP ensures that cloud platforms like Microsoft 365, Azure, AWS, or Google Cloud meet government-grade cybersecurity controls before agencies or contractors use them.

FedRAMP is built around NIST 800-53, which defines strict security controls for federal information systems.

Every FedRAMP-authorized cloud offering is evaluated and authorized at one of three levels:

• FedRAMP Low – for less sensitive data

• FedRAMP Moderate – for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

• FedRAMP High – for highly sensitive or critical data

What Is CMMC?

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification), on the other hand, is the Department of Defense’s framework for ensuring that contractors handling Federal Contract Information (FCI) or Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) meet baseline cybersecurity requirements.

CMMC draws heavily from NIST 800-171, which is a subset of the same security controls that FedRAMP builds on — but applied to contractor systems.

In short:

• FedRAMP applies to the cloud service you use.

• CMMC applies to your organization and how you use, store, and protect data within that service.

How FedRAMP and CMMC Work Together

Here’s the connection: FedRAMP sets the security standard for the cloud platforms where your data lives, and CMMC sets the standard for how you configure and use those platforms.

You can think of it like this:​​

What This Means for Contractors Using Microsoft 365 or Other Cloud Services

If your organization handles CUI, your cloud environment must be hosted in a FedRAMP Moderate (or higher) authorized environment.

For example:

• Microsoft 365 Government (GCC High) and Azure Government are FedRAMP High authorized.

• AWS GovCloud is FedRAMP High authorized.

On the other hand:

• Microsoft 365 Commercial is NOT FedRAMP authorized.

Using a FedRAMP-authorized platform doesn’t make you CMMC compliant by itself, but it ensures the underlying infrastructure already meets many of the security controls you’ll need.

Your responsibility under CMMC is to:

• Configure your system correctly (enforce MFA, limit sharing, manage access).

• Implement and document the NIST 800-171 controls that apply to your operations.

• Maintain user, device, and data protection controls within the cloud.

In other words: FedRAMP gives you a secure foundation. CMMC builds on top of it.

How FedRAMP Helps with CMMC Compliance

Using a FedRAMP Moderate or High environment offers several benefits for contractors pursuing CMMC compliance:

✅ Inherited Security Controls

Many of the underlying security controls required by CMMC are already met at the cloud infrastructure level and can be “inherited” from your cloud provider’s FedRAMP authorization.This reduces the number of controls your company must implement directly.

✅ Audit-Ready Documentation

FedRAMP-authorized platforms maintain continuous monitoring and documentation that supports your CMMC evidence package. This makes it easier to demonstrate compliance for your assessor.

✅ Government-Approved Cloud Hosting

FedRAMP ensures that your cloud provider meets U.S. government standards for data sovereignty, encryption, and personnel screening — essential for handling CUI.

Common Misunderstanding: FedRAMP ≠ CMMC

A FedRAMP-authorized system is not automatically CMMC-compliant for your organization.While FedRAMP covers the cloud provider’s responsibilities, CMMC focuses on your people, policies, configurations, and practices.

For example:

• Microsoft ensures its data centers and infrastructure are FedRAMP authorized.

• You must ensure your users, devices, and configurations align with NIST 800-171.

Think of it as shared responsibility — the cloud provider secures the platform, and you secure your usage of it.

Key Takeaway

If your organization is pursuing CMMC compliance:

• Choose FedRAMP Moderate or High authorized cloud services.

• Use those services in a way that aligns with NIST 800-171 and your CMMC level.

• Leverage the FedRAMP documentation your provider offers to support your compliance evidence.

FedRAMP gives you the “secure building.”CMMC ensures you’re locking the doors, controlling access, and keeping it protected every day.

How DefenseX Can Help

At DefenseX, we specialize in helping defense contractors and IT service providers design, configure, and maintain IT environments that are both FedRAMP-authorized and CMMC-ready.

We help you:

• Choose the right Cloud environment

• Map inherited FedRAMP controls to your CMMC requirements

• Configure security settings for NIST 800-171 compliance

• Build documentation and evidence packages for your assessment

Whether you’re preparing for CMMC Level 1 or Level 2, we make sure your environment is built on a compliant foundation — and that your organization is ready when it’s time to certify.

👉 Contact DefenseX today to discuss how to align your cloud environment with CMMC and FedRAMP requirements.​