Schellman
The only firm in the world simultaneously accredited as a CPA firm, PCI QSA, ISO Certification Body, HITRUST CSF Assessor, FedRAMP 3PAO, CMMC C3PAO, and APEC Accountability Agent. Self-reported #1 FedRAMP 3PAO by assessment volume (201 total assessments on the FedRAMP marketplace; accredited July 2012). Issues 2,000+ SOC reports annually. Pure-play assessor: cannot also remediate the same engagement.
Summary
Schellman is a Independent Security & Privacy Compliance Assessor firm (~516 employees (2025)) focused on Compliance and FedRAMP across AWS/Azure/GCP, with delivery experience in SaaS & Cloud Providers and Federal Government & DoD Supply Chain.
Last reviewed: 2026-05-23 · Cloud Intel — independent, no paid placement
Schellman Analysis
✓ Strengths
- • Unique multi-accreditation breadth: the only firm holding CPA license + PCI QSA + ISO Certification Body + HITRUST CSF Assessor + FedRAMP 3PAO + CMMC C3PAO + APEC Accountability Agent under one roof
- • FedRAMP volume leadership — 201 total assessments on the marketplace, accredited since July 2012, Class D (High) — one of the earliest and most experienced 3PAOs
- • Issues 2,000+ SOC reports annually; one of the highest-volume independent SOC issuers in the US
- • World's first ANAB-accredited ISO 42001 (AI Management System) certification body — early-mover on AI governance assessments
- • March 2025: Authorized for classified DoD IL6 assessments and reauthorized as CMMC C3PAO; one of few firms cleared for classified environments
- • Pure-play assessor model: no implementation or remediation services means no conflict of interest between advisory and assessment roles
- • Consistently high client satisfaction — Gartner 5.0, Glassdoor 4.5 (414 reviews), FeaturedCustomers 4.8 (1,290 references)
⚠ Considerations
- • Assessor-only independence rule: Schellman cannot remediate the same controls it assesses — buyers must engage a separate implementation partner for gap remediation before or alongside the Schellman engagement
- • Goldman Sachs Alternatives strategic investment announced March 5, 2026 (transaction expected to close Q2 2026); Lightyear Capital moves to minority stake — first major ownership transition since 2021; monitor for culture or capacity changes post-close
- • Availability constraints during peak audit season (Q4 primarily) — schedule early; limited scheduling flexibility noted in some reviews
- • Premium pricing relative to boutique regional CPA firms and automation-first compliance platforms (Vanta, Drata readiness + lower-cost auditor combinations)
- • ~516 employees — larger than boutique peers but smaller than Big 4; very large concurrent multi-geography engagements may test capacity
Best Fit For
- ✓ SaaS vendors and cloud providers pursuing FedRAMP authorization who want the highest-volume independent 3PAO with Class D (High) capability
- ✓ Organizations consolidating SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + PCI + HITRUST + FedRAMP under a single assessor to eliminate evidence duplication and reduce audit fatigue
- ✓ DoD contractors and cloud providers needing CMMC C3PAO assessment, IL6 clearance, or classified DoD environment assessments
- ✓ Technology companies pursuing AI governance credibility via ISO 42001 certification (Schellman is the world's first ANAB-accredited body)
- ✓ Enterprise buyers in financial services or government where assessor brand recognition with procurement teams matters
Schellman Cloud Projects
Multi-Cloud SaaS — Combined SOC 2 + FedRAMP 3PAO Assessment
Representative engagement type: Schellman performs both the annual SOC 2 Type II examination and the FedRAMP 3PAO assessment (RAR, initial SAP/SAR, annual ConMon) for cloud-native SaaS providers. Shared evidence gathering across both frameworks reduces client burden versus engaging separate assessors.
- → Single assessor relationship for both SOC 2 and FedRAMP eliminates context-switching and duplicate evidence requests
- → Continuous monitoring annual assessments conducted under the same lead assessor team
Healthcare Technology — HITRUST CSF + SOC 2 + HIPAA Program
Representative engagement type: For healthcare SaaS and digital health platforms, Schellman consolidates HITRUST CSF certification, SOC 2 Type II, and HIPAA assessments into a coordinated program with shared control evidence across all three frameworks.
- → Overlapping control coverage across HITRUST, SOC 2, and HIPAA reduces audit preparation cycles
- → Single third-party attestation package accepted by healthcare enterprise buyers and payers
DoD Supply Chain — CMMC Level 2 C3PAO Assessment + FedRAMP
Representative engagement type: For defense industrial base contractors and cloud providers supporting DoD, Schellman — reauthorized as C3PAO in March 2025 and authorized for classified IL6 — conducts CMMC Level 2 assessments against NIST 800-171 controls alongside FedRAMP assessments for the same cloud infrastructure.
- → One assessor for both CMMC and FedRAMP DoD assessment reduces scheduling and context overhead
- → IL6 authorization enables assessments in classified DoD environments — narrow set of firms qualified
Schellman Pricing Indication
Pricing varies based on project complexity, duration, and specific requirements. Contact the partner for a detailed quote.
Questions to Ask Schellman
Before engaging with Schellman, here are key questions to help you evaluate fit:
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Assessor/Remediator Independence: " Schellman does not perform remediation. Who will handle gap closure between your readiness assessment findings and our target state? How do you coordinate with our implementation partner to avoid re-work before the formal assessment?"
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Lead Assessor Identity: " Who is the named lead assessor for our engagement? Can we interview them before signing? What is their utilization across other engagements — are they available through our full assessment window?"
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Multi-Framework Mapping: " If we pursue SOC 2 + FedRAMP + ISO 27001 simultaneously, what evidence collection is genuinely unified versus conducted separately? Can you show a control overlap matrix from a similar engagement?"
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FedRAMP Capacity & Timeline: " Given your 201+ assessments on the marketplace, what is your current lead time for FedRAMP Ready and Initial Assessment engagements? What is the expected SAR delivery timeline from end of testing?"
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Ownership Transition: " The Goldman Sachs Alternatives investment is expected to close Q2 2026. How is account continuity protected through the ownership transition? Will the same delivery team remain on our engagement?"
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AI Governance: " As the world's first ANAB-accredited ISO 42001 certification body, what does an ISO 42001 engagement typically involve, and how does it complement an existing ISO 27001 program? What is the added scope and cost?"
Red flags to watch for:
- ⚠ Any suggestion that Schellman can also perform remediation on the same engagement — this would compromise assessor independence and violate impartiality requirements
- ⚠ Vague lead assessor assignment — insist on a named assessor before signing and verify their availability against your target dates
- ⚠ Unrealistic timelines for FedRAMP High or complex multi-framework programs — these require significant client-side documentation preparation before assessment can begin
- ⚠ Annual ConMon costs that are not itemized in the initial proposal
- ⚠ Over-reliance on Schellman for strategic compliance roadmap advice — the pure-play model is a strength for independence but means strategic gap-remediation guidance comes from a different (implementation) partner
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Related Research
Schellman — frequently asked questions
Is Schellman a good cloud consulting firm?
Schellman is a Independent Security & Privacy Compliance Assessor firm specializing in Compliance, FedRAMP, Security across AWS and Azure and GCP, with delivery experience in SaaS & Cloud Providers and Federal Government & DoD Supply Chain. Cloud Intel evaluates firms on partner tier, real case studies, and pricing transparency — not paid placement.
How much does Schellman cost?
Schellman operates in the $15K-$100K (SOC 2 Type I/II) · $50K-$500K+ (FedRAMP 3PAO by impact level) · custom-quoted pricing range. Final cost depends on project scope, duration, and complexity — contact them directly for a tailored quote.
What is Schellman best known for?
Schellman specializes in Compliance, FedRAMP, Security with core delivery across AWS and Azure and GCP. Additional competencies include Cloud Security.
Which industries does Schellman serve?
Schellman primarily serves clients in SaaS & Cloud Providers, Federal Government & DoD Supply Chain, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Fintech & Payments, Technology & Digital Enterprises. Buyers in these verticals are typically well-matched to their delivery experience and existing case-study base.
Who should consider Schellman?
Schellman is a strong fit for: SaaS vendors and cloud providers pursuing FedRAMP authorization who want the highest-volume independent 3PAO with Class D (High) capability; Organizations consolidating SOC 2 + ISO 27001 + PCI + HITRUST + FedRAMP under a single assessor to eliminate evidence duplication and reduce audit fatigue; DoD contractors and cloud providers needing CMMC C3PAO assessment, IL6 clearance, or classified DoD environment assessments.
Key Facts
- Headquarters
- Tampa, FL
- Founded
- 2002
- Team Size
- ~516 employees (2025)
- Industries
- SaaS & Cloud Providers, Federal Government & DoD Supply Chain, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Fintech & Payments, Technology & Digital Enterprises
- Data Verified
- May 21, 2026
- Data Version
- Q2-2026
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