FedRAMP: New cloud-friendly network guidance, Subnets white paper rescinded

3 wlonkly 1 8/12/2025, 2:24:33 PM github.com ↗

Comments (1)

wlonkly · 2h ago
The long-standing requirement that you must use subnetting to isolate public from internal, and operational from management, workloads has been a thorn in the side of cloud-based FedRAMP-authorized companies for ages, and now they're finally updating it as part of the "FedRAMP 20x" program aimed at reducing red tape.

From the linked doc:

Current FedRAMP Guidance:

SC-7 (b) Additional FedRAMP Requirements and Guidance: SC-7 (b) should be met by subnet isolation. A subnetwork (subnet) is a physically or logically segmented section of a larger network defined at TCP/IP Layer 3, to both minimize traffic and, important for a FedRAMP Authorization, add a crucial layer of network isolation. Subnets are distinct from VLANs (Layer 2), security groups, and VPCs and are specifically required to satisfy SC-7 part b and other controls. See the FedRAMP Subnets White Paper (fedramp.gov/assets/resources/documents/FedRAMP_subnets_whitepaper.pdf) for additional information.

Updated FedRAMP Guidance:

SC-7 (b) Additional FedRAMP Requirements and Guidance: SC-7 (b) may be met by using any technical capability that ensures logical separation between publicly accessible components and internal networks by preventing traversal without inspection and authorization; traffic may not flow unrestricted from publicly accessible components to internal networks.