Claim Analysis: "No CNAPP tool exists that is FEDRAMP High certified."
1. Introduction
The claim states that there are no Cloud Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPPs) that have achieved Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) High certification. This assertion raises questions about the availability and compliance of security tools used by federal agencies, particularly in the context of increasing reliance on cloud technologies.
2. What We Know
FedRAMP is a government-wide program that standardizes the security assessment and authorization process for cloud services used by federal agencies. It categorizes services into three impact levels: Low, Moderate, and High, with High requiring the most stringent security controls.
Recent sources indicate that several CNAPPs have indeed achieved FedRAMP High certification:
- Aqua Security announced on April 8, 2025, that its CNAPP has achieved FedRAMP High authorization, allowing it to serve federal agencies with high compliance requirements 410.
- SentinelOne also reported that its CNAPP, Purple AI, has received FedRAMP High authorization 6.
- Prisma Cloud has achieved "In Process" status for FedRAMP High, indicating that it is working towards full authorization 8.
Conversely, some CNAPPs are only at the Moderate level or have achieved "Ready" status, which does not equate to full authorization 59.
3. Analysis
Source Evaluation
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FedRAMP.gov 1: The official website of FedRAMP provides authoritative information about the program and its certifications. It is a reliable source for understanding the framework and the status of various cloud services.
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FedRAMP Marketplace 2: This database lists cloud service offerings (CSOs) that have achieved FedRAMP designations. It is a credible source for verifying the current status of various CNAPPs.
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Aqua Security Press Release 410: As a direct announcement from the company, this source may have a promotional bias. However, it is verifiable through the FedRAMP Marketplace, which lists authorized services.
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SentinelOne Press Release 6: Similar to Aqua's announcement, this source may be biased towards promoting their services. Verification through FedRAMP listings would be necessary to confirm the claim.
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Palo Alto Networks Blog 58: This source provides information about Prisma Cloud's status. While it is informative, it may also contain promotional elements.
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Tenable Press Release 9: This source discusses Tenable's "Ready" designation but does not confirm FedRAMP High status, which is relevant to the claim.
Methodology and Evidence
The claim that no CNAPP tool exists with FedRAMP High certification is contradicted by multiple sources indicating that at least two CNAPPs (Aqua Security and SentinelOne) have achieved this status. The methodology behind these certifications involves rigorous security assessments and compliance checks, which are documented and available through the FedRAMP Marketplace.
However, the claim's validity hinges on the interpretation of "CNAPP" and whether it encompasses all tools or just specific offerings. The presence of tools at varying levels of FedRAMP certification (e.g., Moderate, Ready) also complicates the claim.
Conflicts of Interest
Sources like Aqua Security and SentinelOne may have inherent biases as they promote their products. While their claims can be verified, the context in which they present information may be skewed towards marketing rather than impartial reporting.
4. Conclusion
Verdict: False
The assertion that no CNAPP tool exists with FedRAMP High certification is false. Evidence from multiple credible sources indicates that at least two CNAPPs—Aqua Security and SentinelOne—have achieved FedRAMP High authorization. Additionally, Prisma Cloud is in the process of obtaining this certification, further undermining the claim.
It is important to note that the interpretation of what constitutes a CNAPP may vary, and some tools may only have achieved Moderate or "Ready" status, which does not equate to full FedRAMP High certification. This nuance highlights the complexity of the certification landscape and the need for precise definitions in discussions about compliance.
While the evidence supporting the existence of FedRAMP High certified CNAPPs is strong, it is essential to acknowledge that the certification process is dynamic, and statuses may change over time. Therefore, ongoing verification through authoritative sources like the FedRAMP Marketplace is recommended.
Readers are encouraged to critically evaluate information and consider the context and potential biases of sources when assessing claims related to compliance and certification.
5. Sources
- FedRAMP | FedRAMP.gov. Available at: https://www.fedramp.gov/
- FedRAMP Marketplace. Available at: https://marketplace.fedramp.gov/
- Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program. Available at: https://csrc.nist.gov/csrc/media/Presentations/2023/fedramp-updates/images-media/FedRAMP_Updates.pdf
- Aqua Security Achieves FedRAMP® High Impact Authorization. Available at: https://www.aquasec.com/news/aqua-security-fedramp-high-certification/
- Prisma Cloud Achieves FedRAMP High Impact Level - Ready Status. Available at: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/cloud-security/fedramp-high-impact-ready/
- SentinelOne Achieves FedRAMP-High Authorization for Purple AI, CNAPP. Available at: https://www.sentinelone.com/press/sentinelone-achieves-fedramp-high-authorization-for-purple-ai-cnapp-and-hyperautomation-solutions/
- Wiz for FedRAMP: CNAPP for Federal Agencies and Contractors. Available at: https://www.wiz.io/lp/wiz-fedramp
- Prisma Cloud Achieves “In Process” for FedRAMP High. Available at: https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/prisma-cloud/fedramp-high-inprocess/
- Tenable Achieves FedRAMP "Ready" Designation for Tenable Cloud Security. Available at: https://www.tenable.com/press-releases/tenable-achieves-fedramp-ready-designation-for-tenable-cloud-security
- Aqua Security Achieves FedRAMP® High Authorization. Available at: https://www.aquasec.com/blog/aqua-security-fedramp-high-authorization/
