Not CUI Compliant

4 NIST 800-171 gaps detected. Not FedRAMP authorized. Using this tool for CUI creates compliance violations under NIST 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012.

CRM

Freshsales

by Freshworks

Not FedRAMP Authorized

FedRAMP Status

Not FedRAMP Authorized

Impact Level

N/A

Category

CRM

Overview

Freshsales by Freshworks is a commercial CRM with AI-powered lead scoring and pipeline management. It is not FedRAMP authorized and cannot be used for defense contractor CUI workloads.

CUI Risk Assessment

Not FedRAMP authorized. Using this tool for CUI creates compliance violations under NIST 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012.

Deployment & Architecture

Deployment Model: Cloud SaaS (vendor-hosted)

Freshsales has no FedRAMP authorization on record. DFARS 252.204-7012(b)(2)(ii)(D) requires an external cloud service provider to meet security requirements equivalent to the FedRAMP Moderate baseline — an authorization is the straightforward way to show that, but it is not the only one. Without one, the burden is on you to establish, document, and defend equivalency, and to meet the clause's incident-reporting and media-preservation obligations. Most contractors find an authorized alternative cheaper than carrying that burden.

Migration Checklist

  1. 1ISSO: Conduct immediate data audit to identify all CUI within Freshsales system (Week 1)
  2. 2Contracts Officer: Review all customer relationships to classify CUI vs commercial data (Week 1-2)
  3. 3ISSO: Procure FedRAMP Moderate authorized CRM alternative (Salesforce Gov Cloud Plus, Microsoft Dynamics 365 Gov) (Week 2-3)
  4. 4System Administrator: Export all non-CUI commercial data from Freshsales using native tools (Week 3)
  5. 5ISSO: Coordinate secure transfer of CUI customer data to authorized system using encrypted methods (Week 4)
  6. 6System Administrator: Configure new CRM within authorization boundary with appropriate access controls (Week 4-5)
  7. 7ISSO: Update SSP and authorization boundary diagram to remove Freshsales and add new CRM (Week 5-6)
  8. 8Training Manager: Conduct user training on new CRM and CUI handling procedures (Week 6-8)

NIST 800-171 Violations

Using Freshsales for CUI without FedRAMP authorization may violate these NIST 800-171 controls:

Need a CUI-Compliant Alternative?

Freshsales has 4 NIST 800-171 gaps. Get real-time alerts when compliant alternatives launch, plus AI-matched contract opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Freshsales FedRAMP authorized?

No. Freshsales and its parent company Freshworks do not hold FedRAMP authorization for any of their products.

Can I use Freshsales with CUI?

No. Freshsales does not meet FedRAMP or NIST 800-171 requirements. CUI must be handled in a FedRAMP authorized CRM.

What is a compliant alternative to Freshsales?

Salesforce Government Cloud and Dynamics 365 GCC High are FedRAMP High authorized CRM platforms appropriate for CUI environments.

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Related: how much CMMC certification costs — DoD’s own priced figures