How FedRAMP Agencies Evaluate CSP SAR Submissions
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<p>FedRAMP is the federal government’s framework for evaluating and enforcing standardized security across the cloud service providers operating as contractors. They take security seriously, and the protection of controlled information is their top priority.</p><p>A key part of validating the security of a CSP is the SAR, or Security Assessment Report. What is the SAR, and how do FedRAMP agencies evaluate SAR submissions?</p><div class="code-block code-block-13" style="margin: 8px 0; clear: both;"> <style> .ai-rotate {position: relative;} .ai-rotate-hidden {visibility: hidden;} .ai-rotate-hidden-2 {position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%;} .ai-list-data, .ai-ip-data, .ai-filter-check, .ai-fallback, .ai-list-block, .ai-list-block-ip, .ai-list-block-filter {visibility: hidden; position: absolute; width: 50%; height: 1px; top: -1000px; z-index: -9999; margin: 0px!important;} .ai-list-data, .ai-ip-data, .ai-filter-check, .ai-fallback {min-width: 1px;} </style> <div class="ai-rotate ai-unprocessed ai-timed-rotation ai-13-1" data-info="WyIxMy0xIiwxXQ==" style="position: relative;"> <div class="ai-rotate-option" style="visibility: hidden;" data-index="1" data-name="U2hvcnQ=" data-time="MTA="> <div class="custom-ad"> <div style="margin: auto; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.techstrongevents.com/cruisecon-virtual-west-2025/home?ref=in-article-ad-2&utm_source=sb&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=in-article-ad-2" target="_blank"><img src="https://securityboulevard.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Banner-770x330-social-1.png" alt="Cruise Con 2025"></a></div> <div class="clear-custom-ad"></div> </div></div> </div> </div><h2>What is a FedRAMP CSP SAR?</h2><p>To fully understand what a SAR is, you need to understand the auditing and validation process for FedRAMP.</p><p>In order to be FedRAMP certified, a cloud service provider needs to pass an audit. The audit is conducted by a third-party assessment organization, or <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/blog/security/c3pao-3pao-what-difference/">3PAO</a>. The audit is based on:</p><ul> <li aria-level="1">The security controls outlined in NIST SP 800-53</li> <li aria-level="1">The impact level of the CSP according to the FedRAMP framework</li> <li aria-level="1">The 3PAO’s security assessment plan (SAP) methodology</li> </ul><p>When a CSP wants to achieve FedRAMP accreditation, it needs to work with a 3PAO to evaluate its security. The 3PAO will work with the CSP and develop the security assessment plan with them.</p><p>The security assessment plan is effectively a methodology and checklist of security controls that are required according to the CSP’s intended impact level and the state of the business itself. It’s somewhat customized to the CSP, though the contents of the SAP will be familiar to other CSPs, even if the specifics vary.</p><p>The SAP outlines things like personnel interviews that need to be conducted, documentation that needs to be reviewed, testing that needs to be performed, and more. It encompasses the rules of engagement, the scope of testing, and the evaluations that need to be performed to certify the CSP as compliant with FedRAMP rules. It also includes details like timelines, milestones, and risks of testing.</p><p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25769" src="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-is-a-FedRAMP-CSP-SAR.jpg" alt="What is a FedRAMP CSP SAR" width="1000" height="560" srcset="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-is-a-FedRAMP-CSP-SAR.jpg 1000w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-is-a-FedRAMP-CSP-SAR-300x168.jpg 300w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-is-a-FedRAMP-CSP-SAR-768x430.jpg 768w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-is-a-FedRAMP-CSP-SAR-600x336.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></p><p>Once the CSP is confident in their ability to pass the test, the 3PAO works with the CSP to <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/blog/fedramp/fedramp-conmon-audits-difference/">conduct the audit</a>.</p><p>The end result of the audit is the SAR, the security assessment report. This is the compilation of the results of the auditing process conducted by the 3PAO, and is presented to the CSP for the next steps.</p><ul> <li aria-level="1">If the audit finds flaws in implementation and red flags in security, the CSP must take steps to remediate those holes and conduct another assessment to validate the fixes.</li> <li aria-level="1">If the audit finds a sufficient or flawless implementation, the SAR can be presented to the FedRAMP agencies to validate it and add the CSP to the FedRAMP marketplace.</li> </ul><p>The SAR is the diploma for the FedRAMP process, in a sense.</p><p>See, what many people don’t recognize until they reach that point in the process, is that the audit is not the final step of FedRAMP authorization. The audit is a validation of the security work, but the audit report, the SAR, needs to be reviewed and validated by the FedRAMP agencies. Until that happens, the CSP isn’t authorized and can’t work on federal contracts.</p><h2>What Does the SAR Contain?</h2><p>Though the specific information in a security assessment report will vary from agency to agency, CSP to CSP, and impact level, the actual report itself is the same. <a href="https://www.fedramp.gov/resources/templates/FedRAMP-Security-Assessment-Report-(SAR)-Template.docx" rel="nofollow noopener">In fact, FedRAMP provides a template for the report here (DOCX link)</a>.</p><p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25768" src="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-Does-the-SAR-Contain.jpg" alt="What Does the SAR Contain" width="1000" height="560" srcset="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-Does-the-SAR-Contain.jpg 1000w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-Does-the-SAR-Contain-300x168.jpg 300w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-Does-the-SAR-Contain-768x430.jpg 768w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/What-Does-the-SAR-Contain-600x336.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></p><p>What information does it include?</p><ul> <li aria-level="1">The CSP’s name.</li> <li aria-level="1">The purpose, function, and information handled by the CSP.</li> <li aria-level="1">The version of the document.</li> <li aria-level="1">The date of report generation.</li> <li aria-level="1">Information on the 3PAO that generated the document.</li> <li aria-level="1">Revision history of the document, including the author responsible.</li> <li aria-level="1">A summary of open risks and relevant information about them.</li> <li aria-level="1">Information about the assessment methodologies used to test the CSP.</li> <li aria-level="1">Results of all testing, both successes and failures.</li> <li aria-level="1">Results of automated scans, including false positives.</li> <li aria-level="1">A list of any deviations from standard assessments, and why.</li> </ul><p>All of this information is useful for both the CSP to validate their security or develop POA&Ms to fix issues discovered in the auditing process, and for the FedRAMP agency to validate the results of the audit. Without the SAR, the CSP cannot be authorized.</p><h2>How Does a CSP Use Their SAR?</h2><p>The security assessment report is created by the 3PAO and given to the CSP, and it becomes a key part of the overall security package that is submitted to the FedRAMP board. How should the CSP use this document?</p><p><b>Review the SAR.</b> The CSP must review the results of its audit to understand its own security posture. The 3PAO they work with will generally help point out deficiencies in security, areas of improvement, and areas of concern.</p><p><b>Address any deficiencies outlined in the SAR. </b>When there are flaws, failures to comply, gaps in security or coverage, or other failures to meet the standards required by the CSP’s chosen impact level, action must be taken.</p><p>The SAR helps the CSP identify these gaps. Using that knowledge, the CSP can then develop appropriate <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/blog/fedramp/operational-poams-fedramp-equivalency/">Plans of Action and Milestones</a>, which are the remediation plans required to achieve full authorization. Failure to address deficiencies in security means a rejected authorization and no government contracts. In some cases, it can even result in fines and other penalties.</p><p><img decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25764" src="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-a-CSP-Use-Their-SAR.jpg" alt="How Does a CSP Use Their SAR" width="1000" height="560" srcset="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-a-CSP-Use-Their-SAR.jpg 1000w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-a-CSP-Use-Their-SAR-300x168.jpg 300w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-a-CSP-Use-Their-SAR-768x430.jpg 768w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-a-CSP-Use-Their-SAR-600x336.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></p><p><b>Submit the SAR as part of the evidence package to the agency sponsor. </b>Formerly, the SAR would be submitted either to the agency sponsor (for the agency authorization process) or the FedRAMP board (for the provisional authorization process, or JAB process). Earlier this year, however, the government issued a memo directing FedRAMP to streamline the process, and as part of that streamlining, <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/blog/fedramp/what-fedramp-jab-process/">the P-ATO process was removed</a>.</p><p>Now, the SAR is submitted to the agency sponsor for the CSP, and the agency can then use it to accept or decline to work with the CSP. Generally speaking, as long as there are no major issues in the SAR, the authorization will be granted.</p><p><b>Maintain a copy of the SAR for future records. </b>In a sense, the SAR is a living document. Each iterative audit the CSP undergoes will change and add to the SAR, making it an ongoing record of the state and history of the CSP’s security. It will be used in future recertification audits and as part of the overall documentation.</p><h2>How Do FedRAMP Agencies Evaluate a SAR?</h2><p>The SAR is a critical piece of evidence in the authorization process for FedRAMP. Since the final authorization decision lies with the FedRAMP agencies themselves, rather than the government departments looking to use the CSP or the 3PAO auditing the CSP, it’s worth knowing how they analyze the SAR to make their decision.</p><p>So, once a 3PAO gives the SAR to the CSP and it’s handed over to the sponsoring agency, what is the sponsoring agency going to look at to make their final decision?</p><p>Primarily, the decision is based on the fullness of the documentation. The CSP’s ISSO will review the SAR on behalf of FedRAMP and will check it against what is required from a SAR to make sure it’s thorough, detailed, and free of missing details. There’s a reason why FedRAMP provides a template; they want you to use that template, not spin up a bespoke document.</p><p>The FedRAMP ISSO will also check for completeness, the presence of “showstoppers” that are automatic disqualifications, and any serious red flags, which can be brought to the attention of the CSP or to the sponsoring agency right away.</p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25763" src="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Do-FedRAMP-Agencies-Evaluate-a-SAR.jpg" alt="How Do FedRAMP Agencies Evaluate a SAR" width="1000" height="560" srcset="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Do-FedRAMP-Agencies-Evaluate-a-SAR.jpg 1000w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Do-FedRAMP-Agencies-Evaluate-a-SAR-300x168.jpg 300w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Do-FedRAMP-Agencies-Evaluate-a-SAR-768x430.jpg 768w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Do-FedRAMP-Agencies-Evaluate-a-SAR-600x336.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></p><p>Additionally, the ISSO will check the SAR against the SAP. The SAP outline shows the audit was conducted. Are the results consistent with those tests? A disconnect between testing methodology and results can indicate falsification of records, failure to fully complete the audit, or another problem that requires deeper investigation.</p><p>For an example of the specifics, <a href="https://www.fedramp.gov/resources/training/200-C-FedRAMP-Training-Security-Assessment-Report-SAR.pdf" rel="nofollow noopener">FedRAMP training</a> includes instructions like:</p><ul> <li>Section 4: There should be no changes to this text, and the bulleted list of elements and the bulleted paragraphs must match.</li> <li>Table 5-1: Ensure scans and artifacts verify remediation of the specific finding.</li> <li>Table 5-2: Ensure that the mitigating factors and compensating are sufficient to support the adjustment. If Controlled Unclassified Information artifacts are referenced, ensure the artifact has been provided or is available for review on-site.</li> <li>Table 5-3: Ensure that the mitigating factors and compensating controls are sufficient to mitigate the risks.</li> <li>Table 6-1: Does the table contain any information? If there are not risks, ensure there is text in the paragraph above the table describing the test methodology used to make the determination. For example, ISAs were reviewed, and interfaces were tested. This is especially important for PaaS and SaaS leveraging other systems.</li> </ul><p>Again, there’s a reason it’s a template to be filled out.</p><h2>How Does the Sponsoring Agency Make Their Decision?</h2><p>Once the FedRAMP ISSO has determined that there are no critical flaws with the SAR, the sponsoring agency can be given the choice to proceed with the contract or reverse course. The information they use for this includes:</p><p><b>The 3PAO’s opinion. </b>Part of the SAR is a written opinion from the 3PAO as to whether or not the cloud service provider has adequately implemented security according to NIST SP 800-53 and the requirements outlined in their FedRAMP impact level. This opinion is frequently one of the most important parts of the SAR. If the 3PAO does not believe that the CSP is ready to operate in a governmental contract, it’s more than likely that the agency will decline to issue authorization.</p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25765" src="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-the-Sponsoring-Agency-Make-Their-Decision.jpg" alt="How Does the Sponsoring Agency Make Their Decision" width="1000" height="560" srcset="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-the-Sponsoring-Agency-Make-Their-Decision.jpg 1000w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-the-Sponsoring-Agency-Make-Their-Decision-300x168.jpg 300w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-the-Sponsoring-Agency-Make-Their-Decision-768x430.jpg 768w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Does-the-Sponsoring-Agency-Make-Their-Decision-600x336.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></p><p><b>The general results of the security assessment. </b>A review of the relevant information in the SAR will help the agency understand how ready the CSP was for their assessment. A CSP that went into it half-prepared is one that may be riskier to work with than one that was more proactive and had fewer issues in the audit. It’s quite rare for a CSP to pass an audit with flying colors, so a few dings against you won’t be the end of your chances, but there’s always a scale.</p><p>The agency will also look at the severity of the deficiencies detected. Certainly, if there are enough deficiencies of great enough severity, the CSP won’t pass the audit in the first place and won’t even reach the point of submitting the evidence package to their sponsoring agency. If they’re right on the edge, or they had some severe deficiencies but then addressed them, it can still be worse than if they only had minor issues and risks.</p><p><b>The POA&Ms. </b>Addressing deficiencies requires a tangible timeline and set of actions, which shows how proactive and reliable the CSP is at addressing problems when they’re discovered. The efficiency of POA&M closure can be a big part of making the final decision.</p><p><b>The risks. </b>Security is not a pass or fail; it’s a matter of risks and mitigations. There will always be some risks that cannot be fully eliminated without also rendering the CSP’s core offering inoperable.</p><p>Therefore, the biggest part of the sponsoring FedRAMP agency’s decision will come down to an analysis of this risk. It’s even referred to as “making a risk-based decision” in FedRAMP documentation. The agency will evaluate the risks, the likelihood of them occurring, the severity of the consequences should they occur, and what strategies are in place to mitigate them.</p><h2>How Ignyte Can Help</h2><p>Here at Ignyte, we can help in several ways.</p><p>First and foremost, we’re a 3PAO for FedRAMP, and can be the ones who conduct the audit and generate the SAR for your CSP. We’re <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/fedramp-authorization/">deeply familiar with FedRAMP inside and out</a>, and also offer consulting and advice on implementing security measures according to NIST SP 800-53.</p><p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-25767" src="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Ignyte-Can-Help.jpg" alt="How Ignyte Can Help" width="1000" height="560" srcset="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Ignyte-Can-Help.jpg 1000w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Ignyte-Can-Help-300x168.jpg 300w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Ignyte-Can-Help-768x430.jpg 768w, https://www.ignyteplatform.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/How-Ignyte-Can-Help-600x336.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px"></p><p>The Ignyte Assurance Platform is also our specially developed platform for tracking and managing risks, security, and documentation for a variety of frameworks, including FedRAMP. All of your documentation, from individual test results and employee interviews, to risk tracking and conmon results, to the SAP, SAR, and other critical documentation, can all be stored and easily referenced within the platform. All of this makes it easy to generate an evidence package, easy to work through audits, and easy to receive authorization.</p><p>If your CSP is seeking authorization with FedRAMP, you have a lot of work ahead of you, but we can make it easier. <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/integrated-risk-management-platform/">Just schedule a call to find out how</a>.</p><div class="spu-placeholder" style="display:none"></div><div class="addtoany_share_save_container addtoany_content addtoany_content_bottom"><div class="a2a_kit a2a_kit_size_20 addtoany_list" data-a2a-url="https://securityboulevard.com/2025/11/how-fedramp-agencies-evaluate-csp-sar-submissions/" data-a2a-title="How FedRAMP Agencies Evaluate CSP SAR Submissions"><a class="a2a_button_twitter" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/twitter?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F11%2Fhow-fedramp-agencies-evaluate-csp-sar-submissions%2F&linkname=How%20FedRAMP%20Agencies%20Evaluate%20CSP%20SAR%20Submissions" title="Twitter" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_linkedin" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/linkedin?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F11%2Fhow-fedramp-agencies-evaluate-csp-sar-submissions%2F&linkname=How%20FedRAMP%20Agencies%20Evaluate%20CSP%20SAR%20Submissions" title="LinkedIn" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_facebook" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/facebook?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F11%2Fhow-fedramp-agencies-evaluate-csp-sar-submissions%2F&linkname=How%20FedRAMP%20Agencies%20Evaluate%20CSP%20SAR%20Submissions" title="Facebook" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_reddit" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/reddit?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F11%2Fhow-fedramp-agencies-evaluate-csp-sar-submissions%2F&linkname=How%20FedRAMP%20Agencies%20Evaluate%20CSP%20SAR%20Submissions" title="Reddit" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_button_email" href="https://www.addtoany.com/add_to/email?linkurl=https%3A%2F%2Fsecurityboulevard.com%2F2025%2F11%2Fhow-fedramp-agencies-evaluate-csp-sar-submissions%2F&linkname=How%20FedRAMP%20Agencies%20Evaluate%20CSP%20SAR%20Submissions" title="Email" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"></a><a class="a2a_dd addtoany_share_save addtoany_share" href="https://www.addtoany.com/share"></a></div></div><p class="syndicated-attribution">*** This is a Security Bloggers Network syndicated blog from <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com">Ignyte</a> authored by <a href="https://securityboulevard.com/author/0/" title="Read other posts by Dan Page">Dan Page</a>. Read the original post at: <a href="https://www.ignyteplatform.com/blog/fedramp/fedramp-csp-sar-submissions/">https://www.ignyteplatform.com/blog/fedramp/fedramp-csp-sar-submissions/</a> </p>