For ISVs, the AWS Foundational Technical Review (FTR) is a pivotal milestone. It governs AWS Marketplace eligibility, AWS Partner Network (APN) program qualifications such as AWS Competency and Service Ready, and ultimately customer confidence. With AWS updating the FTR to align with the AWS Well-Architected Framework Review (WAFR), expectations for security, reliability, and operational excellence are now more clearly defined.
But while the guidance has evolved, the process itself remains highly technical and manual. Most ISVs still face complex assessments, a variety of required artifacts to assemble, including the WAFR report, CIS controls, FTR checklist, and architecture diagrams, and the need for deep AWS expertise.
MontyCloud changes this experience entirely.
We recently launched our FTR Assessment, which automates prerequisite validation, interprets findings, consolidates artifacts, and packages everything you need for submission in minutes, not months. ISVs get a guided, repeatable workflow that reduces 90% of the time required to complete an FTR, while eliminating manual waste and freeing teams to focus on innovation.
In this blog, you’ll learn how MontyCloud helps ISVs streamline FTR readiness under the updated guidelines.
The Challenge: New FTR Still Requires Deep Technical Expertise
AWS’s updated FTR guidance creates consistency by aligning requirements with the AWS Well-Architected Framework Review. But for most ISVs, the process is still far from simple.
A typical workload can require:
- Multiple assessments across several AWS pillars
- Deep analysis of findings
- Completing and validating strict prerequisite requirements
- Producing multiple artifacts
- Coordinating remediation efforts
Many ISVs lack the specialized AWS architecture expertise required to evaluate workloads against hundreds of best practices, identify gaps, and produce actionable reports. This skills gap slows down FTR completion, delays fixes, and ultimately extends time to Marketplace or program eligibility.
The Solution: A Faster, Predictable Path for ISVs
This complexity creates real friction for ISVs who need a fast, predictable way to achieve FTR readiness without pulling engineers away from product development.
To help you overcome these hurdles, MontyCloud has introduced a simpler, automated approach to FTR preparation. Our new FTR Assessment gives you a single, centralized workflow to complete assessments, validate controls, generate required artifacts, and export a submission-ready package in under 30 minutes.
A full FTR assessment—including prerequisite validation, optimization insights, and artifact generation—can now be completed in just a few clicks. Your team can quickly identify issues, understand their impact, and assemble a complete submission package without needing deep AWS expertise or weeks of manual effort.
How MontyCloud Changes the Game
MontyCloud eliminates the manual, expert-driven burden of the FTR process by:
- Automating prerequisite WAFR validation
- Automatically evaluating required CIS controls
- Providing the official FTR checklist template and validating uploads
- Consolidating all artifacts into a submission-ready package within 30 minutes
- Streamlining remediation with AI-powered insights
Differentiated Value
MontyCloud gives teams granular permission controls and multiple operating roles. Teams can manage FTR tasks safely and collaboratively, without over-permissioning engineers or exposing sensitive workloads.
Additionally, our live coaching module (now fully integrated into the FTR workflow) helps ISVs understand findings in plain business terms. It highlights severity, explains root causes, and delivers ready-to-use remediation scripts. Non-technical leaders, product managers, and engineering managers can confidently participate in FTR preparation without needing deep AWS expertise.
With support for 25 languages, global ISV teams can collaborate seamlessly and ensure a consistent, high-quality review process across regions.
Walkthrough: How to Generate Your FTR Package in MontyCloud
Our new feature gives you a repeatable playbook to manage the FTR process.
Step 1: Validate the AWS Well-Architected Assessment
MontyCloud automatically checks your Well-Architected Review against the latest FTR prerequisites. You can link an existing assessment or run a new one directly inside the workflow. Subsequently, the dashboard shows a real-time view of your FTR readiness, including HRI status across the required pillars. If an issue needs attention, MontyCloud routes you straight to the exact finding so you can resolve it quickly. Instead of navigating multiple AWS consoles or re-running manual checks, MontyCloud gives you a single place to confirm your WAFR is fully compliant.
Step 2: Generate the CIS Controls Report
FTR now requires evidence across 10 specific CIS controls. MontyCloud completes this automatically. Using the validated WAFR from Step 1, the platform evaluates the required controls and generates the CIS report for you, removing the need for a separate tool, manual scans, or additional documentation steps.
Step 3: Complete and Upload the FTR Checklist
Next, you need to complete the shorter, 13-control FTR checklist. Download the AWS FTR checklist template from within MontyCloud, fill it out, and upload it back into the same card. MontyCloud immediately validates the file and surfaces any missing details.
Step 4: Add Your Architecture Diagram
Upload your architecture diagram in any common format (PDF, PNG, JPEG, VSDX). MontyCloud stores it alongside the rest of your artifacts so everything stays in sync. You can replace or update files at any time without restarting your submission process.
Step 5: Export Your Final Submission Package
Once all prerequisites are complete, the Export button is activated.
With one click, MontyCloud generates a fully packaged ZIP file containing:
- Your validated WAFR report
- The CIS controls report
- The completed FTR checklist
- Your architecture diagram
Everything is formatted and ready for AWS: no manual bundling, re-checking, or rework.
Get Started Today
Don’t let the FTR process slow down your path to AWS Marketplace or program eligibility. With MontyCloud’s new FTR Assessment, your team can reduce preparation time by more than 90% and focus on building great software, not managing assessments or complex processes.
Request a demo today to see how MontyCloud streamlines FTR readiness and gives your ISV a faster, more predictable path to compliance and customer trust.