The wrong TLS configuration can kill your FedRAMP High authorization before it even starts. One weak cipher, one protocol mismatch, and you’re out. FedRAMP High Baseline TLS configuration is not a checklist item you can skim. It’s a precision build, where every setting counts under the eye of 800-53 and industry scrutiny.
To meet FedRAMP High, TLS must enforce the strictest encryption standards. That means TLS 1.2 or 1.3 only—no fallback to TLS 1.1 or SSL. All weak ciphers, including RC4, 3DES, and any CBC-mode-based suites, are gone. The configuration must explicitly define strong cipher suites such as TLS_ECDHE_RSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384 or TLS_ECDHE_ECDSA_WITH_AES_256_GCM_SHA384. Forward secrecy is mandatory. Session tickets must be handled carefully or disabled to prevent key compromise.
Every public endpoint—load balancer, reverse proxy, API gateway—must match this strict configuration. Certificates should use SHA-256 or stronger, with RSA keys of at least 2048 bits or ECC keys of equivalent strength. Renewal must be automated and tested. Certificate chains must be clean and ordered correctly. Any weak intermediate or expired root will break compliance fast.