FedRAMP Authorized — High Impact
Microsoft Azure Government by Microsoft. 6 compliance features verified.
Microsoft Azure Government
by Microsoft
Impact Level
High
Status
Authorized
Pricing
enterprise
Authorization Date: March 24, 2017 | Sponsoring Agency: DoD
Overview
Azure Government is a physically separated instance of Microsoft Azure built exclusively for U.S. government agencies and their partners. It supports DoD Impact Levels 2 through 6 and provides over 100 compliance certifications. The platform offers consistent hybrid cloud capabilities across government and commercial environments.
Key Features
Certifications & Authorizations
Deployment Options
NIST 800-171 Compliance Coverage
How to Procure Microsoft Azure Government for Defense Contracts
Azure Government is available through GSA Multiple Award Schedule (MAS) under SIN 518210C (Cloud Computing Services) and SEWP V contracts. Microsoft holds Enterprise Software Initiative (ESI) agreements providing government pricing discounts of 15-25% below commercial rates. Contracting officers must specify the appropriate DoD Impact Level region in the PWS and ensure the authorization boundary aligns with data classification requirements. For IL5/IL6 workloads, additional DoD Cloud Service Provider (CSP) authorization documentation is required beyond FedRAMP High. The System Security Plan (SSP) must clearly define which Azure Government services fall within the authorization boundary, as not all Azure commercial services are available in Government regions. Typical procurement timeline is 6-12 months for new implementations, including ATO processes. For CMMC assessments, Azure Government infrastructure can be excluded from the assessment boundary as an external service provider, but tenant configuration and data handling processes remain in scope. Organizations must implement proper data flow documentation showing CUI handling within authorized regions and maintain evidence of Microsoft's CMMC compliance attestation for subcontractor requirements under DFARS 252.204-7012.
Compliance Cross-References
Azure Government's FedRAMP High authorization directly supports DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements for protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) through its NIST 800-171 compliant infrastructure. The platform addresses DFARS 252.239-7010 cloud security requirements via DoD-approved data centers with enhanced background investigations for personnel. Critical NIST 800-171 control families are satisfied: Access Control (AC) through Azure AD Government and RBAC, System and Communications Protection (SC) via encryption at rest and in transit, and Audit and Accountability (AU) through comprehensive logging and monitoring. For CMMC Level 2 compliance, Azure Government supports Asset Management (AM), Access Control (AC), System and Information Integrity (SI), and Risk Management (RM) domains through its mature security controls. The DoD Cloud Computing Security Requirements Guide (SRG) alignment enables processing of CUI and National Security Systems data up to IL6 classification levels, satisfying both FISMA and DoD 8500-series requirements for cloud service providers.
Defense Contractor Use Case
Defense contractors rely on Azure Government for hosting CUI and ITAR-controlled data, running DoD workloads, and leveraging integrated Microsoft 365 GCC High services for end-to-end compliance.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the FedRAMP authorization level for Microsoft Azure Government?
Microsoft Azure Government is authorized at the FedRAMP High impact level, with authorization granted on 2017-03-24 sponsored by DoD. The FedRAMP High baseline includes approximately 421 security controls and is the most rigorous authorization level.
Can defense contractors use Microsoft Azure Government for CUI?
Yes, Microsoft Azure Government is authorized at the FedRAMP High baseline, which is suitable for protecting CUI. Defense contractors can use this platform for processing, storing, and transmitting CUI in compliance with NIST 800-171 and DFARS 252.204-7012 requirements. The High baseline provides the most comprehensive set of security controls for cloud services.
How does Microsoft Azure Government pricing compare to commercial?
Microsoft Azure Government government pricing is typically negotiated on an enterprise basis and may differ from commercial list prices. Government and defense contractor pricing often includes compliance overhead that can make it 15-30% higher than commercial equivalents. However, volume discounts, GSA Schedule pricing, and multi-year commitments can help offset these costs. Contact Microsoft directly or check GSA Advantage for current government pricing.
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Open FedRAMP FinderGet a defensible CUI architecture
This Microsoft Azure Government FedRAMP profile flags the gaps. The next step is a compliance architecture review where we map your data flows to FedRAMP-authorized alternatives and CMMC-aligned controls.
Schedule architecture reviewRelated: how much CMMC certification costs — DoD’s own priced figures