Bentley Secures Federal Cloud Approval for America’s Infrastructure Overhaul
As the United States wrestles with the costly reality of ageing roads, bridges, dams, transit systems and water networks, the digital tools used to modernise those assets are becoming just as important as concrete, steel and asphalt. This week, Bentley Systems announced that two of its flagship platforms, ProjectWise and OpenGround, have achieved FedRAMP Authorisation at the Moderate Impact Level, a milestone that could significantly expand their use across federal infrastructure programmes.
For public agencies, software approval rarely makes headlines. Yet in practice, it can shape how billions of dollars in infrastructure investment are planned, managed and delivered. FedRAMP approval allows U.S. federal bodies to adopt vetted cloud services with greater confidence, reducing procurement friction and speeding deployment of secure digital systems. In Bentley’s case, that opens the door for wider use of collaborative engineering data environments and geotechnical intelligence tools across transport, defence, environmental and water projects.
The timing is notable. The U.S. infrastructure pipeline remains substantial following the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act funding streams and long-term federal asset renewal programmes. Agencies are under pressure to deliver faster, manage risk more effectively and demonstrate value for money. Old paper-based processes and fragmented data silos simply don’t cut it anymore.
Bentley’s announcement therefore goes beyond software compliance. It points to a broader shift in how governments are expected to procure, coordinate and maintain critical national infrastructure in a cyber-conscious era.
Briefing
- Bentley Systems has secured FedRAMP Moderate authorisation for ProjectWise and OpenGround.
- Approval enables wider use by U.S. federal agencies and programme partners.
- The tools support secure project collaboration, engineering data control and geotechnical reporting.
- Sponsorship for the authorisation came from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
- The move strengthens digital delivery opportunities across transport, water, defence and environmental sectors.
FedRAMP Approval
FedRAMP, the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, was established by the U.S. government to standardise security assessment for cloud services used by federal agencies. Instead of each agency conducting entirely separate reviews, vendors can obtain centralised authorisation demonstrating compliance with strict cybersecurity and risk controls.
For infrastructure technology providers, this matters enormously. Federal projects often involve sensitive site data, utility layouts, engineering drawings, environmental records and security-related asset information. Any system handling that information must meet rigorous standards for confidentiality, integrity and resilience.
Moderate Impact Level authorisation is particularly relevant because it covers a broad range of government operational data. That makes it suitable for many mainstream infrastructure programmes rather than only niche or low-risk use cases. In practical terms, Bentley has positioned itself to compete more effectively for federal digital engineering workloads.
It also gives engineering consultants, contractors and delivery partners confidence that the platforms can be used in federal project ecosystems without introducing unnecessary compliance barriers.
Why ProjectWise and OpenGround Matter
ProjectWise has long been recognised across the engineering sector as a connected data environment for complex infrastructure delivery. It helps teams manage drawings, models, documents, revisions and multidisciplinary collaboration across large projects involving multiple stakeholders.
That capability is increasingly vital on public works programmes where agencies, consultants, contractors and specialist suppliers all need access to controlled, current information. Errors caused by outdated drawings or disconnected systems can trigger delays, claims and costly rework.
OpenGround serves a different but equally important role. It focuses on geotechnical information management, bringing together borehole logs, soil reports, laboratory testing, ground models and related data. For transport corridors, flood defences, tunnels, bridges and foundations, subsurface conditions can make or break a project budget.
Ground risk has historically been one of the most expensive unknowns in infrastructure delivery. Better digital control of geotechnical data helps reduce surprises, improve design confidence and support safer construction planning.
When combined, ProjectWise and OpenGround connect what happens above ground with what lies beneath it. That linkage can materially improve decision-making from early design through construction and asset management.
Federal Infrastructure Needs Better Data, Not Just Bigger Budgets
The U.S. has no shortage of infrastructure demand. According to assessments from the American Society of Civil Engineers, significant portions of national infrastructure still require modernisation, maintenance or replacement. Funding alone, however, does not guarantee efficient delivery.
Major programmes often struggle with fragmented governance, outdated records, contractor coordination issues and schedule overruns. A road scheme delayed by poor utility intelligence or a water upgrade slowed by document confusion can waste millions before the first ribbon is cut.
That is where secure cloud collaboration becomes commercially important. Instead of teams passing files by email or storing critical records in isolated local systems, authorised cloud platforms can create a common operating picture across agencies and supply chains.
Bentley’s FedRAMP status may therefore help federal owners accelerate digital transformation at a time when every month of delay carries financial and political consequences.
Bentley’s Statement and Strategic Position
Julien Moutte, chief technology officer at Bentley Systems, said: “The FedRAMP authorization signals Bentley’s longstanding commitment to trust, compliance, and safeguarding critical infrastructure information while improving how agencies securely share and manage project data in the cloud.”
He added: “ProjectWise and OpenGround provide a trusted digital foundation for federal infrastructure programs, connecting surface and subsurface intelligence in secure cloud environments to accelerate project delivery and improve infrastructure resilience, all while meeting the highest U.S. government security standards.”
The wording reflects Bentley’s broader market strategy. Rather than targeting generic enterprise software markets, the company remains tightly focused on infrastructure engineering. That sector specialism has helped it build strong positions in transport, utilities, energy and public asset management worldwide.
With federal compliance credentials now strengthened in the United States, Bentley may gain momentum not only with agencies themselves but also with consultants and contractors who prefer standardised digital environments across programmes.
Sponsored by USACE and What Comes Next
Bentley said the authorisation was sponsored by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, one of the most influential public engineering bodies in America. USACE oversees a vast portfolio spanning waterways, flood risk management, military facilities and civil works, making it a logical partner for infrastructure-focused digital platforms.
That sponsorship also carries symbolic weight. It suggests practical relevance for large-scale engineering operations rather than a box-ticking compliance exercise.
Bentley noted that ProjectWise Design Integration and OpenGround are available now, with additional ProjectWise services expected to follow. If further modules are authorised, agencies could gain broader end-to-end digital delivery capability across planning, design, construction and asset lifecycle management.
Building Resilience Through Better Delivery
Infrastructure resilience is no longer a side topic. Climate pressures, extreme weather, cyber threats and rising maintenance backlogs are forcing owners to think differently about how assets are designed and operated.
Digital twins, connected construction systems, AI-assisted analytics and real-time condition intelligence all depend on reliable, secure data foundations. Without structured data environments, those advanced tools often remain pilot projects rather than operational reality.
Bentley’s latest milestone therefore speaks to a larger industry truth. The future of infrastructure delivery will depend as much on trusted digital workflows as on heavy machinery and site labour.
For the United States, where ageing assets meet rising expectations, secure engineering collaboration may become one of the most valuable construction tools of the decade.
