RMF Control CA-6: Authorization requires organizations to authorize the operation of information systems and the processing, storage, and transmission of information by those systems. This authorization must be based on an assessment of the risks to the organization and the effectiveness of the organization’s security controls.
Supplemental Guidance
The Risk Management Framework (RMF) is a cybersecurity framework that provides a process for managing cybersecurity risk to systems and organizations. RMF Control CA-6: Authorization is one of the controls in the CA family, which addresses continuous monitoring.
Authorization is important for a number of reasons. First, it helps to ensure that information systems are operated in a secure manner. Second, it helps to ensure that information is processed, stored, and transmitted in a secure manner. Third, it helps to demonstrate compliance with regulations.
Benefits of Implementing RMF Control CA-6
There are a number of benefits to implementing RMF Control CA-6, including:
- Improved security posture: Authorization can help organizations to improve their security posture by ensuring that information systems are operated and information is processed, stored, and transmitted in a secure manner.
- Reduced risk of security incidents: Authorization can help to reduce the risk of security incidents by identifying and mitigating security risks.
- Improved compliance: Authorization can help organizations to comply with many regulations that require organizations to authorize information systems and the processing, storage, and transmission of information.
How to Implement RMF Control CA-6
To implement RMF Control CA-6, organizations should:
- Identify the information systems that need to be authorized.
- Conduct a risk assessment to identify the risks to the organization and the effectiveness of the organization’s security controls.
- Make a decision on whether to authorize the operation of the information systems and the processing, storage, and transmission of information by those systems.
- Document the authorization decision.
- Monitor the authorization decision on an ongoing basis and make changes to the authorization decision as needed.
Examples of Authorization
Here are some examples of authorization:
- System Authorization: A system authorization is a decision to allow the operation of an information system.
- Data Authorization: A data authorization is a decision to allow the processing, storage, and transmission of information by an information system.
- Application Authorization: An application authorization is a decision to allow the use of an application.
Conclusion
RMF Control CA-6: Authorization is an important control that can help organizations to improve their security posture, reduce the risk of security incidents, and improve compliance. By implementing RMF Control CA-6, organizations can authorize the operation of information systems and the processing, storage, and transmission of information by those systems based on an assessment of the risks to the organization and the effectiveness of the organization’s security controls.
Additional Tips for Implementing RMF Control CA-6
- Involve stakeholders in the authorization process: Organizations should involve stakeholders in the authorization process to ensure that the authorization decision is based on a comprehensive understanding of the risks to the organization and the effectiveness of the organization’s security controls.
- Document the authorization decision: Organizations should document the authorization decision to provide evidence that the decision was made based on a risk assessment and that the decision is based on the organization’s security policies and procedures.
- Monitor the authorization decision on an ongoing basis: Organizations should monitor the authorization decision on an ongoing basis to ensure that the decision is still valid and that the information system and the processing, storage, and transmission of information are still secure.
- Use a risk management tool: A risk management tool can help organizations to conduct risk assessments and to make authorization decisions.
By following these tips, organizations can effectively implement RMF Control CA-6 and improve their security posture.