What Perplexity’s reported FedRAMP 20x Class C certification means

On November 2, 2026, FedRAMP announced the first full FedRAMP 20x Class C certification for Perplexity Enterprise and API Platform, according to a November 4 report by MeriTalk. Class C describes the assurance information a provider supplies; it is not a security rating for the service or an automatic authorization for every agency system.

What the full Class C certification means

Perplexity’s offering had previously been used by agencies under a limited pilot Class C certification, MeriTalk reported. The November milestone covered the final Class C rules in FedRAMP’s 2026 Consolidated Rules. FedRAMP’s 20x approach assesses provider-supplied security outcome metrics through Key Security Indicators, or KSIs, according to the program’s explanation reported by MeriTalk.

FedRAMP says certification classes describe the assurance information a provider supplies, not the impact level of an agency’s system or the service’s security rating. Agencies determine their own system impact level and decide whether a service fits their specific use, configuration, integrations, data and mission (FedRAMP’s explanation of certification classes).

Controls Perplexity describes for government use

Perplexity says its certified environment supports live web search and answers with citations. The company also says agency web searches stay within the certified perimeter rather than being shared with an external search provider.

For queries identified as coming from U.S. government agencies, Perplexity says it applies zero data use: those queries are not retained for model training, improvement or evaluation. The company also says administrators can manage identity-provider sign-in, external sharing, file actions and connectors, as well as configure session retention and audit-log delivery (Perplexity’s description of its government offering).

How public-sector organizations can access it

Perplexity says federal agencies can procure its FedRAMP-certified SaaS through the General Services Administration’s Multiple Award Schedule. State, local and education customers can use authorized resellers, while government contractors can buy directly from Perplexity.