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tags:
  - Independent Assessors
  - Guidance
title: "Assessors"
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hide:
  - toc
picto:
  source: person
---

<span class="picto">:lucide-person-standing:{ .person title="This content was written by a human just for this page." }</span>

# Independent Assessment Services

FedRAMP relies on independent assessment services (also known as independent assessors, formerly referred to as Third-Party Assessment Organizations or 3PAOs) to scale initial assessment capabilities based on industry need instead of directly operating an end-to-end assessment organization within FedRAMP itself. Relying on third-parties that are contracted by cloud service providers reduces cost for taxpayers by placing the burden for initial assessment on the cloud service provider.

This section helps independent assessment services understand the expectations for their participation in the FedRAMP Certification process.

!!! warning "FedRAMP only accepts independent assessments that have been performed by **FedRAMP Recognized** independent assessment services."

    FedRAMP Recognized independent assessment services can be found in the [FedRAMP Marketplace](https://fedramp.gov/marketplace).

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<div class="grid cards" markdown>

-   :lucide-shield-question-mark:{ .xl .middle .stable } **Need support?**

    ---

    Learn how to get involved with the FedRAMP Community and what kind of support FedRAMP offers in public vs in private.

    [Getting Support](../support.md){ data-preview }

-   :material-update:{ .xl .middle .empty } **Been here awhile?**

    ---

    Things are changing and you'll need to do things differently from here on out.

    [Updating to 2026 Rules](updating/index.md){ data-preview }

-   :material-dice-d20-outline:{ .xl .middle .placeholder } **FedRAMP 20x Rules!**

    ---

    The expectations for independent verification and validation under FedRAMP 20x are very different from Rev5, requiring different skills and a new approach.

    [Performing FedRAMP 20x Assessments](fedramp-assessments/20x.md){ data-preview }

-   :material-rewind-5:{ .xl .middle .machine } **FedRAMP Rev5**

    ---

    FedRAMP Rev5 isn't new but the expectations for independent verification and validation have still shifted and you'll need to review the rules.

    [Performing FedRAMP Rev5 Assessments](fedramp-assessments/rev5.md){ data-preview }

</div>
