How LevelBlue’s FedRAMP Authorization Removes the Burden of CMMC Federal Compliance from Clients

Navigating the labyrinth of the U.S. federal procurement system, especially for Defense Industrial Base (DIB) companies, can be challenging, particularly when trying to meet stringent cybersecurity compliance standards like the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC). 

The most effective way to simplify this process is for DIB companies and organizations subject to International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) to work with a fully FedRAMP-authorized Cloud Service Provider or Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) to help satisfy their CMMC requirements.

LevelBlue Public Sector has committed the time and invested the financial resources necessary to achieve and maintain FedRAMP authorization.

LevelBlue has the unique honor of being the only pure-play Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provider recognized by FedRAMP.

A qualified security provider that has achieved and maintains FedRAMP authorization has made the necessary investment of time and resources to ensure ongoing compliance. Some providers go further, offering a comprehensive suite of managed detection and response (MDR) services and maintaining the necessary federal credentials to support clients with ITAR and CMMC mandates.

By maintaining FedRAMP and ITAR authorizations, a compliant security provider assumes many of the regulatory responsibilities that would otherwise fall on the DIB company. This includes meeting requirements such as U.S.-only data storage and employing U.S. citizens for all IT and security management functions.

For DIB organizations, partnering with a security provider that is already fully authorized reduces the compliance burden and allows them to focus on their core mission. The provider has already made the compliance investment on behalf of its clients.

What CMMC Compliance Entails

To better understand the value of a FedRAMP-authorized provider, let’s look at the steps involved in becoming CMMC compliant.

It starts with scoping, particularly identifying and protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)—unclassified data that still requires safeguarding. In the context of cybersecurity services, this includes Security Protection Data (SPD), which supports the protection of CUI and is therefore considered within the scope of CMMC audits.

If a DIB company uses external cloud services or cloud-based monitoring tools for SPD, those services must comply with CMMC guidelines, which mandate that providers be FedRAMP Moderate Authorized or equivalent. This is a strict requirement for CMMC Level 3. While Level 2 allows for self-attested FedRAMP equivalence, this places the burden of proof on the DIB company.

In such cases, the DIB company must collect extensive documentation from the vendor for assessment by a C3PAO (Certified Third-Party Assessor Organization). This documentation, known as the Body of Evidence, includes:

Here is the Body of Evidence list reformatted into a clean, three-column table for easy readability:

ITAR and Additional Federal Requirements

The requirements don’t end with CMMC. ITAR, administered by the U.S. Department of State, imposes additional restrictions on companies working with defense-related data.

ITAR mandates that data remain within the U.S., typically requiring the use of Government Community Clouds (e.g., AWS GovCloud or Microsoft Azure GCC High). It also requires that only U.S. persons provide administrative support, including managed detection and response or co-managed security operations center (SOC) services. These personnel must hold federal security clearances and work for an organization with a Facility Clearance through the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA).

The Value of a Compliant Security Provider

A fully authorized security provider simplifies the complexity of federal compliance by offering:

• FedRAMP certification maintained through rigorous annual re-assessments and continuous monitoring.
• Hosting on secure U.S.-only infrastructure such as AWS GovCloud or Azure GCC High.
• Technically certified, U.S.-based personnel who are regularly trained and updated.
• Security-cleared staff who meet the criteria for working with sensitive federal environments.

By selecting a security provider with a complete set of federal authorizations and proven infrastructure, DIB companies can offload a significant compliance burden. This allows them to confidently meet CMMC and ITAR requirements without diverting resources away from mission-critical operations.

Ultimately, leveraging a compliant security partner allows organizations to focus on innovation and delivery—while their provider handles the complexities of federal cybersecurity compliance.