Federal Assessments & Compliance

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) is a federal law protecting student education records. It applies to educational institutions receiving federal funding, including schools, colleges, universities, and educational agencies. FERPA requires institutions to protect student records, provide access rights to students and parents, and obtain consent before disclosing records. Non-compliance can result in loss of federal education funding.

FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act) regulates consumer credit reporting and protects consumer rights. It applies to consumer reporting agencies, creditors, employers using background checks, and entities furnishing information to credit bureaus. FCRA requires accurate reporting, consumer access to reports, dispute resolution, and proper use of credit information. Violations can result in significant fines and legal liability.

NIST 800-171 protects Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) in non-federal systems. It applies to DoD contractors and subcontractors handling CUI, defense contractors, and organizations processing federal CUI. NIST 800-171 requires implementation of 110 security controls across 14 control families. Compliance is mandatory for DoD contracts involving CUI, and non-compliance can result in contract loss and exclusion from future contracts.

NIST 800-53 provides security and privacy controls for federal information systems. It applies to federal agencies, federal contractors operating federal systems, and organizations requiring FISMA compliance. NIST 800-53 is the foundation for FISMA compliance and achieving Authorization to Operate (ATO). It includes controls for Low, Moderate, and High impact systems. Compliance is required for federal systems and contractors operating federal information systems.

FedRAMP (Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program) standardizes security assessment and authorization for cloud services used by federal agencies. Cloud service providers offering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Software as a Service (SaaS) to federal agencies must achieve FedRAMP authorization. Authorization requires assessment by a Third-Party Assessment Organization (3PAO) and approval by a federal agency. FedRAMP authorization enables cloud services for federal agencies.

CMMC (Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification) is a DoD framework assessing cybersecurity maturity of defense contractors. CMMC has three levels: Level 1 (Foundational) requires basic cyber hygiene, Level 2 (Advanced) requires NIST 800-171 controls, and Level 3 (Expert) requires advanced security practices. CMMC certification is becoming mandatory for DoD contracts. Organizations must achieve the level required by their contract and maintain certification through annual assessments.

Assessment timelines vary by framework, system complexity, and current compliance maturity. FERPA and FCRA assessments typically take 2-4 months. NIST 800-171 assessments take 3-6 months. NIST 800-53/FISMA assessments take 6-12 months for initial ATO. FedRAMP authorization takes 12-18 months. CMMC certification takes 3-6 months. Organizations pursuing compliance for the first time may need additional time for gap assessment, remediation, and formal validation.

Penalties vary by framework. FERPA violations can result in loss of federal education funding. FCRA violations can result in fines up to $3,500 per violation and class action lawsuits. NIST 800-171 non-compliance can result in contract termination and exclusion from DoD contracts. FISMA violations can result in system shutdown, loss of ATO, and Inspector General findings. FedRAMP non-compliance prevents cloud service sales to federal agencies. CMMC non-compliance prevents DoD contract awards.

Yes, many organizations combine multiple federal assessments to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. DoD contractors often coordinate NIST 800-171 and CMMC assessments. Federal contractors may combine NIST 800-53/FISMA with FedRAMP. Organizations handling multiple data types may combine FERPA, FCRA, and NIST frameworks. Our team helps coordinate multiple assessments to leverage shared evidence, common controls, and unified governance while ensuring comprehensive compliance.

Required documentation varies by framework but typically includes security policies and procedures, System Security Plans (SSP), Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA), risk assessments, control implementation evidence, incident response plans, business continuity plans, training records, audit logs, and assessment reports. NIST frameworks require comprehensive documentation per NIST 800-53A. FedRAMP requires specific templates and continuous monitoring deliverables. We help you identify required documentation and develop missing policies and procedures as part of the assessment process.