CUI Compliant
0 NIST 800-171 gaps detected. FedRAMP authorized at High impact level. Approved for CUI handling in DoD environments.
Salesforce Government Cloud
by Salesforce
FedRAMP Status
FedRAMP Authorized
Impact Level
High
Category
CRM
Authorized: May 14, 2014 | Sponsor: Department of Health and Human Services
Overview
Salesforce Government Cloud (GCC) is FedRAMP High authorized and built on dedicated infrastructure isolated from commercial Salesforce. It provides CRM capabilities including sales, service, and marketing automation for federal agencies and defense contractors handling CUI.
CUI Risk Assessment
FedRAMP authorized at High impact level. Approved for CUI handling in DoD environments.
Using Salesforce Government Cloud in a Defense Contractor Environment
Salesforce Government Cloud is specifically designed for defense contractors handling CUI categories including technical data packages (TDP), procurement sensitive information, financial data, and PII under DoD contracts. As a FedRAMP High authorized service, it operates within a dedicated government boundary isolated from commercial Salesforce instances. In CMMC Level 2 environments, GCC typically sits within the CUI boundary as the primary customer relationship management system, interfacing with contract management and financial systems. Required compensating controls include proper user access reviews, data classification enforcement within Salesforce objects, and integration security for APIs connecting to other CUI systems. DCMA/DIBCAC assessors specifically evaluate GCC's boundary isolation, data encryption in transit/rest, audit logging capabilities, and incident response procedures. Assessors verify that custom fields and objects handling CUI are properly configured with appropriate sharing rules and that mobile access controls align with NIST 800-171 requirements.
Deployment & Architecture
Deployment Model: Government Cloud (FedRAMP boundary)
Salesforce Government Cloud operates within a FedRAMP-authorized boundary. CUI can be processed within the authorization scope, but contractors must verify their specific use case falls within the system's security boundary as documented in the SSP.
Implementation Guide
For proper GCC configuration in CUI environments, defense contractors should plan a 6-8 week implementation timeline. Data migration from commercial Salesforce requires careful CUI classification review and sanitization before transfer to GCC. Export all opportunity, account, and case data using Salesforce Data Export or APIs, ensuring CUI markings are preserved in custom fields. User training focuses on CUI handling procedures, proper data classification within Salesforce objects, and mobile device restrictions. SSP updates must document GCC within the authorization boundary, including data flows to integrated systems like ERP or document management platforms. Authorization boundary diagrams require updates showing GCC's placement within the CUI enclave. No migration away from GCC is typically needed given its compliant status, but organizations should validate proper configuration of sharing rules, field-level security, and integration endpoints to maintain NIST 800-171 compliance.
Configuration Checklist
- 1ISSO: Conduct authorization boundary review to properly place GCC within CUI environment (Week 1)
- 2Sysadmin: Configure Salesforce sharing rules and field-level security for CUI data classification (Week 2)
- 3ISSO: Implement user access controls and role hierarchies aligned with least privilege principles (Week 3)
- 4Sysadmin: Enable audit trail and event monitoring for all CUI data access within Salesforce (Week 3)
- 5IT Security: Configure API security and encryption for integrations with other CUI systems (Week 4)
- 6ISSO: Document data flows and update SSP to include GCC system interconnections (Week 5)
- 7Contracts: Train users on CUI handling procedures and mobile device restrictions for Salesforce access (Week 6)
- 8ISSO: Conduct initial compliance verification and prepare for CMMC assessment documentation (Week 7-8)
Compliance Cross-References
Salesforce Government Cloud's FedRAMP High authorization directly supports NIST 800-171 control families including Access Control (AC), Audit and Accountability (AU), and System and Communications Protection (SC). The service triggers DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for adequate security and 252.204-7021 for cyber incident reporting. CMMC assessment domains significantly affected include Access Control (AC), Audit and Accountability (AU), Configuration Management (CM), and System and Information Integrity (SI). GCC's dedicated government boundary specifically addresses AC.L2-3.1.1 for authorized access and AU.L2-3.3.1 for audit log creation. The platform's encryption capabilities support SC.L2-3.13.11 for cryptographic protection, while its incident response features align with IR domain requirements for cyber incident reporting under DFARS compliance obligations.
Other FedRAMP Authorized CRM Tools
Related Compliance Assessments
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salesforce Government Cloud FedRAMP authorized?
Yes. Salesforce Government Cloud holds a FedRAMP High authorization, making it approved for handling the most sensitive unclassified government data including CUI.
Can I use Salesforce Government Cloud with CUI?
Yes. As a FedRAMP High authorized platform, Salesforce Government Cloud meets the security requirements for processing, storing, and transmitting CUI in DoD contractor environments.
What is the difference between Salesforce commercial and Government Cloud?
Salesforce Government Cloud runs on dedicated infrastructure separated from commercial tenants, meets FedRAMP High baselines, and restricts data residency to the United States. The commercial version does not meet these requirements.
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