Aegis achieved FedRAMP High authorization in 9 months with Novastraxis
Aegis Global Network deployed in Novastraxis GovCloud with ITAR-compliant enclaves, leveraged the ATO-in-a-Box accelerator, and secured the largest DoD contract in their history.
Aegis Global Network
Defense Contractor & Intelligence Services
Sector
Defense Contractor
Employees
8,500
Headquarters
Arlington, VA
Industry
Defense & Intelligence
Key Results at a Glance
9 months
To FedRAMP High P-ATO
420
Controls Documented Automatically
$240M
DoD Contract Secured
99.999%
Uptime Across Classified Workloads
67%
Reduction in Compliance Staffing
The Challenge
A $240M contract hinged on achieving FedRAMP High in half the usual time
Aegis Global Network, an 8,500-person defense contractor headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, was pursuing the largest contract in their history: a $240M multi-year Department of Defense program. The contract required FedRAMP High authorization, IL4/IL5 data handling, CMMC Level 3 certification, and ITAR-compliant infrastructure. Their existing cloud provider could not meet these requirements, and the standard 18-month authorization timeline would miss the RFP deadline by seven months.
$240M Contract at Risk
A critical Department of Defense contract required FedRAMP High authorization and IL4/IL5 data handling capabilities. Without authorization, Aegis would be disqualified from the competitive bid and lose the opportunity entirely.
Unacceptable Authorization Timeline
The industry-average FedRAMP High authorization process takes 18 months. The DoD contract RFP deadline was 11 months away, making the standard timeline completely unworkable for Aegis.
IL4/IL5 Compliance Gaps
The previous cloud provider could not meet Department of Defense Impact Level 4 and Impact Level 5 requirements for Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) and mission-critical workloads.
ITAR-Controlled Data Handling
International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) required that all technical data be processed and stored exclusively by U.S. persons in U.S.-based facilities with strict access controls and audit trails.
420 NIST 800-53 Controls
FedRAMP High authorization requires documentation and continuous monitoring of 420 security controls from NIST 800-53 Rev. 5. Manual documentation and evidence gathering was projected to require 14 months alone.
CMMC Level 3 Requirements
Beyond FedRAMP, the DoD contract required Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Level 3, adding 130 additional practices that needed to be implemented, documented, and assessed.
The Solution
GovCloud infrastructure with an accelerated authorization pathway
Novastraxis deployed a purpose-built GovCloud environment with ITAR-compliant enclaves and leveraged the ATO-in-a-Box accelerator to compress the FedRAMP High authorization timeline from 18 months to 9 months, without cutting corners on control implementation or assessment rigor.
Novastraxis GovCloud Deployment
Deployed all workloads in Novastraxis GovCloud, a physically isolated cloud environment operated exclusively by U.S. persons with Secret-level clearances. GovCloud provides dedicated infrastructure that meets FedRAMP High, DoD IL4/IL5, and ITAR requirements by design.
Zero-Trust Fabric with FIPS 140-2
Implemented identity-aware microsegmentation using FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated cryptographic modules for all data in transit and at rest. Every network request, API call, and data access is authenticated, authorized, and logged through the Zero-Trust Fabric.
Learn about Zero-Trust FabricATO-in-a-Box Accelerator
Leveraged the Novastraxis ATO-in-a-Box accelerator framework that provides pre-built control implementations, evidence templates, and automated assessment workflows. This accelerator reduced the authorization timeline by automating 73% of documentation requirements.
Compliance Automation Engine
Configured continuous compliance monitoring for NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 (all 420 controls), CMMC Level 3 (130 practices), and ITAR technical data handling requirements. Real-time dashboards provide auditors and assessors with continuous visibility into control effectiveness.
View Compliance CapabilitiesThe Results
Authorization achieved. Contract awarded. Mission accomplished.
Aegis Global Network not only met the aggressive authorization timeline but also established a continuous compliance posture that positions them for future DoD contract opportunities.
9 months
To FedRAMP High P-ATO
Before
18-month industry avg
After
9 months
Aegis achieved a FedRAMP High Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO) in 9 months, half the industry average. The ATO-in-a-Box accelerator and Compliance Automation Engine automated the most time-intensive aspects of the authorization process.
420
Controls Documented Automatically
Before
Manual documentation
After
73% automated
Of the 420 NIST 800-53 Rev. 5 controls required for FedRAMP High, 307 were documented automatically through the Compliance Automation Engine. The remaining 113 controls required minimal manual input with pre-built evidence templates.
$240M
DoD Contract Secured
Before
Contract at risk
After
Contract awarded
With FedRAMP High authorization in hand before the RFP deadline, Aegis submitted a fully compliant proposal and was awarded the $240M multi-year Department of Defense contract, the largest in the company's history.
99.999%
Uptime Across Classified Workloads
Before
99.95%
After
99.999%
Five-nines uptime across all classified and mission-critical workloads in the GovCloud environment. Redundant availability zones and automated failover ensure continuous operation even during infrastructure maintenance events.
67%
Reduction in Compliance Staffing
Before
24 FTEs
After
8 FTEs
Continuous compliance monitoring and automated evidence collection reduced the compliance operations team from 24 full-time equivalents to 8 senior compliance engineers. The remaining team focuses on strategic risk management rather than manual documentation.
Implementation Timeline
9 months from gap assessment to P-ATO
The accelerated authorization pathway compressed an 18-month industry-average process into three tightly coordinated phases, with continuous 3PAO engagement throughout.
Phase 1
Gap Assessment & Architecture
Months 1 - 3
- Comprehensive gap analysis against FedRAMP High, NIST 800-53 Rev. 5, CMMC Level 3, and ITAR requirements
- GovCloud environment architecture design with IL4/IL5 data classification and handling procedures
- ITAR enclave design with U.S.-person-only access controls and physical isolation requirements
- 3PAO (Third Party Assessment Organization) selection and engagement for independent assessment
- System Security Plan (SSP) development with automated control documentation from ATO-in-a-Box
- Executive steering committee formation with CISO, General Counsel, and DoD program management
Phase 2
Implementation & Assessment
Months 4 - 7
- GovCloud deployment of all mission-critical workloads with ITAR-compliant data handling pipelines
- Zero-Trust Fabric activation with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated encryption across all communication paths
- Compliance Automation Engine deployment for continuous monitoring of all 420 FedRAMP High controls
- CMMC Level 3 practice implementation across 17 capability domains
- 3PAO readiness assessment and remediation of 23 identified findings
- Security Assessment Report (SAR) preparation and submission to FedRAMP PMO
Phase 3
Authorization & Contract Award
Months 8 - 9
- 3PAO final assessment and authorization recommendation to the Joint Authorization Board (JAB)
- FedRAMP High P-ATO granted by the JAB following successful review of SAR and POA&M
- CMMC Level 3 certification achieved through independent C3PAO assessment
- DoD contract proposal submission with full FedRAMP High and CMMC Level 3 compliance documentation
- Contract award notification and transition planning for DoD workload onboarding
- Continuous monitoring program activation with real-time compliance dashboard for FedRAMP PMO
“We were told by every other provider that FedRAMP High in under a year was impossible. Novastraxis proved them wrong. Their GovCloud infrastructure and ATO-in-a-Box accelerator didn't just meet our timeline — they gave us a compliance posture that is now a competitive differentiator for every DoD opportunity we pursue. The $240M contract was the beginning, not the end.”
Colonel (Ret.) David Harmon
Chief Information Security Officer, Aegis Global Network
Related Resources
Your Turn
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