AWS (Commercial)
by Amazon Web Services
FedRAMP Status
FedRAMP Authorized
Impact Level
Moderate
Category
Cloud Storage
Overview
AWS commercial regions hold FedRAMP Moderate authorization. While suitable for some government workloads, they do not meet FedRAMP High requirements for DoD CUI. AWS GovCloud is the isolated, ITAR-compliant environment required for CUI.
CUI Risk Assessment
AWS commercial regions are FedRAMP Moderate, NOT High. Many contractors use commercial AWS thinking any AWS is sufficient, but GovCloud is required for CUI needing FedRAMP High.
NIST 800-171 Violations
Using AWS (Commercial) for CUI without FedRAMP authorization may violate these NIST 800-171 controls:
FedRAMP Compliant Alternatives
Frequently Asked Questions
Is commercial AWS sufficient for CUI?
Commercial AWS is FedRAMP Moderate only. For DoD CUI requiring FedRAMP High, you must use AWS GovCloud, which is physically isolated with US-person-only staff.
What is the difference between AWS commercial and GovCloud?
GovCloud runs in isolated US regions, restricts access to US persons, supports ITAR, and holds FedRAMP High. Commercial AWS regions are global, shared infrastructure with FedRAMP Moderate.
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