AIC vs FedRAMP cloud: CMMC Alternatives, Pricing, and Reviews

At a Glance

Criterion	AIC Level 2	FedRAMP cloud provider	Winner
Published software Year 1	$19,800	Not a software kit	AIC on the kit
Data center, hardware, and hypervisor	Not needed	Provider	Provider on the cloud
CUI email and file sharing	Included	Not included	AIC
Privileged vault, sessions, and elevation	Included	Not included	AIC
Configuration compliance and Assessment Binder	Included	Not included	AIC
FedRAMP ATO for the software vendor	Not claimed	That is the provider's authorization	Provider on inheritance

What each product does

A FedRAMP cloud authorizes the provider's infrastructure. AIC CMMC Level 2 is the kit you operate on that cloud or on hardware you own: CUI email server, file sharing, privileged access, configuration compliance on connecting machines, training, and the Assessment Binder. Azure holds FedRAMP High [1]. AIC is software you run. AIC itself does not hold a FedRAMP authorization.

How AIC wins this deal

Order AIC CMMC Level 2. Deploy it in your Azure subscription (ready to configure in under 5 minutes) or on premises. The cloud is the host. The kit is the program. Connecting-machine scans, training, and privileged sessions write into the Assessment Binder.

Upgrade path. Start with Free, then Level 2 compliance tracking ($119 per month), Level 2 Essentials ($499 per month), Level 2 ($1,650 per month), and Level 3. Level 1 and AIC Privileged Access ($89 per privileged user per month; five-user minimum) can also upgrade in place to Level 2. Records carry over. Evidence from connecting machines, training and attestation, privileged sessions, Incident Response, and the Assessment Binder stays in one product. Session Recording is not included in Free, Tracking, Essentials, Level 1, or Level 2; it is included only in Level 3 with isolated Jump.

Why defense contractors and MSPs choose AIC

• Lower cost. AIC Level 2 is $1,650 per month with 25 users and 25 systems included.
• Startup fees waived for 2026. On every CMMC package ordered on or before December 31, 2026.
• Deploy your way. In your Microsoft Azure subscription, ready to configure in under 5 minutes, or on your own hardware (on-premises).
• You stay in control. AIC runs in your subscription or on your hardware, not as a shared software-as-a-service (SaaS) tenant. You own the keys and the audit records.
• One integrated kit. CUI email and file sharing, vault, privileged sessions, endpoint elevation, configuration compliance, training and attestation, and the Assessment Binder.
• MSP and partner friendly. Partner discounts on every sale and every renewal, a higher discount on registered deals, and unlimited free support for partners.
• Low-risk, experienced vendor. Our developers and support engineers have built standard security software for prime contractors, Defense Industrial Base (DIB) suppliers, and the Intelligence Community for more than 30 years. Building cybersecurity software since 1993.
• You guide the roadmap. Features we do not have yet are marked Planned and built in the order customers ask for them.

What a FedRAMP cloud provides

Cloud	Authorization	Source
Microsoft Azure (commercial)	FedRAMP High provisional authorization	[1]
Microsoft Azure Government	FedRAMP High provisional authorization	[1]

A FedRAMP authorization covers the cloud provider's own infrastructure and operations. It does not configure, run, or document the controls inside your systems.

How AIC uses a FedRAMP cloud

When you deploy AIC in Azure, AIC runs inside your own Azure subscription. Azure supplies the authorized infrastructure. AIC supplies the Level 2 tools you operate on it. AIC itself does not hold a FedRAMP authorization, because it is software you run, not a cloud service AIC operates.

Shared responsibility

Need	FedRAMP cloud provider	You, with AIC Level 2
Data center, hardware, and hypervisor security	Provider	Not needed
CUI email and file sharing	Not included	Available now
Vault for server, network, and local admin passwords, with rotation	Not included	Available now
Brokered SSH, RDP, and VNC sessions with command restriction	Not included	Available now
Endpoint privilege elevation on Windows, Mac, and Unix/Linux	Not included	Available now
Configuration compliance with repair	Not included	Available now
Training assignment, attestation, and reminders	Not included	Available now
Assessment Binder from live control evidence	Not included	Available now

Assessment cost context

The Department of Defense estimated a Level 2 third-party assessment for a small entity at $104,670 over 3 years, and a Level 2 self-assessment at $37,196. Those estimates exclude the cost of putting controls in place [2]. AIC addresses the controls; the assessor decides the result.

FedRAMP cloud Alternatives, Pricing, Cheaper Alternative, Reviews, and GCC High Comparison

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a FedRAMP cloud enough for CMMC?

No. A FedRAMP cloud covers the provider's infrastructure. You still need to run and document the Level 2 controls on your own systems.

Is AIC FedRAMP authorized?

AIC is software you deploy in your own Azure subscription or on your own hardware. Azure holds FedRAMP High [1]. AIC does not hold a FedRAMP authorization.

What is a FedRAMP Moderate equivalent for CMMC?

FedRAMP authorization describes a cloud service assessment boundary. It does not by itself provide a complete CMMC program or determine the boundary required for a contract. Review the shared-responsibility and scope sections on this page.

Do I need FedRAMP for CMMC?

CMMC requirements and contract terms determine which cloud services and information boundaries may be used. Confirm the specific requirement with the contracting authority and your assessor.

What FedRAMP cloud alternatives should I consider for CMMC?

Compare the required email and file scope, privileged access, configuration compliance, training, evidence, hosting control, and support. This page summarizes sourced details; the source links and retrieval dates appear below.

How does FedRAMP cloud pricing compare for CMMC?

Compare the published plan, contract term, user and system limits, and add-ons against the same scope. The comparison labels estimates and assumptions and links the sources below. Confirm current terms with the vendor.

Is AIC a cheaper alternative to FedRAMP cloud?

For the scope shown on this page, AIC is the lower-priced option in the sourced comparison. Any estimates and assumptions are identified in the table and source notes. Confirm current scope and terms with each provider.

How does FedRAMP cloud compare with GCC High for CMMC?

GCC High is a cloud environment, not a CMMC privileged-access kit by itself. Whether it is needed depends on the contract, data, and customer requirements. Compare those requirements with the features and hosting options in this page.

Help set our roadmap

Customers guide our feature set. If you need something we list as Planned, or something we do not list at all, tell us. Requests from customers and partners decide what we build next.

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Sources and notes

1. Microsoft Azure FedRAMP offering: Azure commercial and Azure Government hold FedRAMP High provisional authorizations. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/compliance/offerings/offering-fedramp. Retrieved 2026-10-09.
2. DoD CMMC program final rule cost estimates, 89 FR (October 15, 2024). https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/10/15/2024-22905/cybersecurity-maturity-model-certification-cmmc-program. Summary: https://venvera.com/learn/cmmc/compliance-cost. Retrieved 2026-10-09.

About this comparison

Competitor information comes from the public sources listed above and was collected on October 9, 2026. Prices, packages, and features change. This information is not guaranteed to be accurate or complete. Confirm current terms with each vendor before you buy. AIC prices are list prices from the AIC CMMC price list dated October 9, 2026.

Microsoft and Azure are trademarks of their owners. FedRAMP is a program of the United States General Services Administration. All other product and company names are trademarks of their owners. AIC is not affiliated with or endorsed by them.

An assessment organization, certification body, or regulator decides whether a requirement is satisfied. These pages describe product availability. They are not an assessment result, a certification, or legal advice.