FedRAMP
Which FedRAMP Path Fits Your Service, 20x or Rev5?
FedRAMP changed in 2026. The Elevate FedRAMP Path Finder walks your service to one clear answer: 20x or Rev5, the class to target, and what to do before the deadlines. Built from the official Consolidated Rules for 2026.
226 Rules
20x and Rev5
2 minutes
No-cost
WHAT IS INSIDE
One clear FedRAMP path, not a reading assignment.
Your Path
Whether FedRAMP 20x or Rev5 fits how your service is built, with the reasoning behind it.
Your Class
Which class to target, from Class A through Class D, and why to start where you start.
Your Deadlines
The 2026 and 2027 dates that apply to your path, including where FedRAMP Ready closing and Rev5 winding down change your timing.
Your Next Step
A no-cost review with our team to confirm your path and outline what to prepare first.
Three steps to your FedRAMP path
Follow your branch
Answer four short questions about how your service is built and where you are today. No FedRAMP expertise required.
See your path
Get your recommended path, class, and the deadlines that apply to you, mapped to the official 2026 rules.
Confirm it with our team
Book a no-cost review to validate your path and get a short list of what to prepare first.
Get the Guide
Get your FedRAMP Path Finder
Enter your details to get the FedRAMP Path Finder and a no-cost review of your result with Elevate’s team.
Built on the Official Rules
Built by practitioners, from the source.
Elevate’s FedRAMP work is led by Angela Polania, a CISA, CISM, and CRISC-credentialed practitioner who leads the firm’s FedRAMP practice.
The Path Finder is built directly from the official FedRAMP Consolidated Rules for 2026, with each branch traced to the published rules rather than to a summary.
This is a working guide, not an official FedRAMP determination, and the deadlines are version-sensitive, so confirm your path with the team before you act.
This plan reflects how Elevate scopes and sequences that work in real engagements, so the timeline you build is grounded in the artifacts an assessor will actually ask for.
Download it, adapt it, and if you want a second set of eyes, an advisor will walk your plan with you at no cost.
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The rules changed. Your FedRAMP path should not be a guess.
Get the Path Finder, see your path, and let Elevate’s team confirm where to start.
QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between FedRAMP 20x and Rev5?
FedRAMP 20x is the modern, cloud-native certification type introduced in 2026. It runs on the Program Certification Path, is processed directly by FedRAMP, and does not require a federal agency sponsor. It is intended for services built on FedRAMP-authorized infrastructure or platforms. FedRAMP Rev5 is the legacy certification type that is being retired. It runs on the Agency Certification Path, requires an agency to authorize and sponsor the service, and is intended for standalone services that operate their own infrastructure or that need a Class D certification.
Which FedRAMP path should a cloud service provider choose in 2026?
Architecture decides the path. A cloud-native service built on FedRAMP-authorized infrastructure or platforms should generally pursue FedRAMP 20x, which is the fastest and lowest-cost route and fits most commercial SaaS. A standalone service that operates its own underlying infrastructure, or a service that needs a Class D certification, currently uses FedRAMP Rev5. A provider cannot pursue a Program Certification for both 20x and Rev5, so the choice is one path.
Is FedRAMP Ready still available?
No. FedRAMP Ready closed on July 28, 2026 and moved to Legacy status. Providers that reached FedRAMP Ready before that date are generally steered toward a FedRAMP 20x Class A certification, or toward the temporary Rev5 Program pipelines (Ready Conversion or Lost Sponsor) for Class B or C if they qualify.
When does FedRAMP stop accepting new Rev5 applications?
FedRAMP stops accepting new Rev5 certification applications on June 11, 2027. The temporary Rev5 Program pipelines, Ready Conversion and Lost Sponsor, have a grace period that ends February 19, 2027, and the Consolidated Rules for 2026 become mandatory for any provider seeking certification on January 1, 2027.
Does a FedRAMP authorization exempt you from CMMC?
Not necessarily. If a cloud service provider serves the Defense Industrial Base or handles Controlled Unclassified Information, CMMC Level 2 can also apply, even with a FedRAMP authorization. With CMMC Phase 2 currently suspended, the Level 2 self-assessment is the live requirement, and a false self-attestation carries False Claims Act exposure.