Cisco says that modern digital agility is directly linked to mission success. In this context, the company positions itself as one of the leading partners in the modernization of the US public sector. The company emphasizes that federal, state and local agencies operate to the highest standards of security and accountability, which is why Cisco has made it a priority to deliver FedRAMP Certified Class D (High) solutions across key offerings in its security portfolio.
„FedRAMP Certified Class D (High) provides a secure, compliant foundation that combines legacy infrastructure with cloud-native innovation. This enables agencies to implement Zero Trust principles and accelerate digital transformation with confidence. Cisco also emphasizes that its commitment goes beyond technology – it is about trusted, proven, and scalable Zero Trust platforms designed to protect the most sensitive data and ensure the smooth delivery of public services.
From FedRAMP Class C to Class D – an important step
On August 11, 2026, Cisco announced that it has upgraded its core security offerings from FedRAMP Certified Class C (Moderate) to FedRAMP Certified Class D (High). This transition provides federal agencies and contractors with the additional protection they need for their most sensitive, mission-critical, unclassified data. Achieving the Class D Certification foundation enables Cisco to seamlessly transition to an advanced Zero Trust architecture that meets the requirements of the CISA Zero Trust Model.
Class C (Moderate) is the standard for many civilian agencies, but Class D (High) is for systems where a data breach could have catastrophic consequences – including law enforcement, emergency services, healthcare and financial services. By achieving the 421 security controls required for a Class D base certification, Cisco helps protect personally identifiable information (PII) and controlled unclassified information (CUI) with the highest level of cloud security rigor.
The core of Zero Trust – „never trust, always verify“
Cisco’s strategy is based on the Zero Trust philosophy – „never trust, always verify“. By integrating FedRAMP High authorized solutions, agencies can implement granular access policies, continuous visibility and reduce the attack surface between users, devices and applications. The Zero Trust model moves security from a traditional, perimeter-based architecture to an identity and context-centric structure. In an environment where the consequences of a data breach are severe, the model ensures that no user or device is granted access until full authentication and security posture verification are performed.
By implementing least privileged access, Cisco solutions help prevent lateral movement attempts and isolate sensitive data even in the event of a compromised credential. This is important as email remains a primary entry point for advanced threats such as phishing and ransomware.
Five pillars of Zero Trust and Cisco solutions
Cisco's security portfolio is aligned with the CISA Zero Trust Maturity Model (ZTMM) across five key pillars: Identity, Devices, Network/Environment, Application Workload, and Data. FedRAMP Certified Class D (High) solutions provide visibility and automated policy enforcement that enable agencies to move from Traditional to Advanced and Optimal maturity levels.
Integrated threat intelligence from Cisco Talos and cross-pillar visibility help meet the requirements of Executive Order 14028 and M-22-09 by creating a resilient defense-in-depth strategy. For example, Cisco Secure Access for Government now includes Secure Web Gateway, Cloud Access Security Broker, and cloud-delivered firewall functionality with FedRAMP High authorization, enabling you to block threats before they reach your organization, manage shadow IT, and prevent data leakage.
Another major achievement is Cisco Secure Email Threat Defense, which also received FedRAMP Certified Class D (High). Since email is a primary entry point for advanced threats, this solution provides an additional layer of protection to help federal agencies combat phishing, ransomware, and other cyber threats.
Conclusion
Cisco FedRAMP Class D (High) certification marks a significant step toward implementing a trusted Zero Trust architecture in the federal sector. With these high-level solutions, agencies can ensure tight access controls, continuous visibility, and integrated threat intelligence that meet the requirements of both CISA and Executive Order 14028. This initiative not only strengthens the national cybersecurity foundation, but also drives digital transformation that enables public services to deliver reliable and resilient services.
