Federal cloud readiness
Turn Your Security Program Into FedRAMP 20x Evidence
Thornbush helps cloud providers move from narrative compliance to measurable, machine-readable proof of security outcomes.
Built for SaaS, AI, cybersecurity, health-tech and cloud service providers.
- Readiness Domains
- 6
- Action Roadmap
- 90-Day
- Classes Considered
- A, B & C
Why now
The 20x pathway is operational.
Confirmed program milestone, not a certification guarantee- FedRAMP granted the first full CR26-compliant FedRAMP 20x Class C certification on October 29, 2026, as announced on November 2, 2026.Source: FedRAMP announcement
- FedRAMP 20x emphasizes measurable outcomes and Key Security Indicators over narrative documentation.
- Marketplace transparency about third-party resources makes dependency scoping more important than ever.
Who this is for
Cloud teams with a federal opportunity
SaaS companies pursuing federal revenue
Turn an existing commercial security program into evidence a federal buyer and assessor can evaluate.
AI and automation platforms
Scope models, data pipelines and inference services, and show how they are governed and monitored.
Healthcare and health-tech cloud providers
Reuse HIPAA and SOC 2 work where it holds, and close the gaps where federal expectations differ.
Cybersecurity product companies
Prove your own platform meets the outcomes you help customers achieve.
Federal subcontractors modernizing cloud evidence
Replace manual screenshots and binders with repeatable, dated, machine-readable proof.
Commercial providers evaluating Class A, B or C
Get a grounded go or no-go view before you commit budget and engineering time.
Six readiness domains
From pathway decision to remediation roadmap.
- 01
Pathway & Class Selection
Current posture, market objective and Class A, B or C fit.
- 02
Minimum Assessment Scope
Services, components, boundaries and third-party resources.
- 03
KSI & Evidence Engineering
Identify metrics, owners, sources and machine-readable proof.
- 04
Secure SDLC & CI/CD
SAST, code approvals, deployment gates and traceability.
- 05
Continuous Validation
Monitoring, vulnerability, identity, logging and exception evidence.
- 06
Remediation Roadmap
Prioritized gaps, dependencies, owners, sequencing and executive decisions.
Engagement levels
Three ways to work with Thornbush
Executive Pathway Diagnostic
Duration: 1 week
- 60 to 90 minute stakeholder session
- Class and pathway hypothesis
- High-level evidence maturity score
- Top five blockers
- Executive decision brief
Evidence Readiness Sprint
Duration: 3 to 4 weeks
- Everything in the Diagnostic
- KSI and evidence-source inventory
- Third-party-resource scope review
- CI/CD and SAST evidence validation
- Control-owner accountability map
- 90-day remediation roadmap
FedRAMP 20x Readiness Program
Duration: Custom, typically 8 to 16 weeks
- Everything in the Sprint
- Readiness workstream management
- Evidence package development
- Engineering and GRC working sessions
- Remediation validation
- Executive reporting and assessment preparation
Custom scope based on cloud boundary, class and evidence maturity.
A focused diagnostic is available for organizations that need an initial go/no-go decision before committing to a larger program.
Deliverables
What you receive
- FedRAMP pathway recommendation
- Readiness scorecard
- Minimum assessment scope map
- KSI catalog and ownership matrix
- Evidence-source register
- CI/CD and SAST evidence review
- Third-party-resource inventory
- Gap and risk register
- 90-day remediation roadmap
- Executive decision presentation
Readiness diagnostic
Where does your evidence stand?
FAQ
Common questions
What is FedRAMP 20x?
FedRAMP 20x is the FedRAMP program's modernized authorization approach. It emphasizes measurable security outcomes, automation and machine-readable evidence over long narrative documentation.
How is it different from Rev. 5?
Rev. 5 is the established, control-by-control baseline process built on NIST SP 800-53. 20x focuses on Key Security Indicators and validated outcomes. Requirements continue to evolve, so we check current FedRAMP guidance at the start of every engagement.
Which class should we pursue?
It depends on the data you handle, your target agencies and your current posture. Choosing a pathway and class is the first decision in our diagnostic, and the final determination follows FedRAMP's published criteria.
Do we need an agency sponsor?
FedRAMP 20x removes the agency sponsorship barrier. Agency authorization to operate remains a separate decision. We check current FedRAMP requirements for your target pathway at the start of every engagement.
Is Thornbush a 3PAO or certification body?
No. Thornbush is not a 3PAO, is not FedRAMP authorized, and is not a government partner. We provide readiness, evidence engineering, implementation support and assessment preparation. Assessors evaluate evidence; FedRAMP makes certification decisions and agencies make authorization-to-operate decisions.
What are Key Security Indicators?
KSIs are measurable indicators of security outcomes, such as how identity, logging, vulnerability and change management are performing, backed by evidence that can be produced repeatedly.
What evidence should engineering teams expect to provide?
Typically CI/CD and code-review records, SAST and vulnerability results, deployment gates, identity and access data, logging and monitoring output, and records of exceptions and remediation.
Can Thornbush help health-tech and AI vendors?
Yes. We work with health-tech and AI teams to reuse existing HIPAA, SOC 2 and governance work where it applies and to scope models, data pipelines and third-party services.
Does readiness guarantee certification?
No. Readiness work improves your evidence and reduces surprises, but it does not guarantee any FedRAMP outcome or replace required FedRAMP or assessor decisions.
Federal Opportunity Moves Faster When Your Evidence Is Ready
Start with a focused decision session or bring Thornbush alongside your engineering and GRC teams for a complete readiness program.