CA – Security Assessment And Authorization

The RMF Control Family CA, Security Assessment and Authorization, addresses the need for organizations to conduct security assessments and authorize information systems for use.

Controls in the CA Control Family

The CA Control Family includes the following controls:

• CA-1: Security Assessment and Authorization Policy and Procedures: This control requires organizations to develop and implement a security assessment and authorization policy and procedures. This policy should define the roles and responsibilities for security assessments and authorization, and the process for conducting security assessments and authorizing information systems.
• CA-2: Security Assessments: This control requires organizations to conduct security assessments to identify and assess the risks to information systems. Security assessments should be conducted on a regular basis and after any changes to information systems.
• CA-3: System Interconnections: This control requires organizations to implement security controls to protect system interconnections. This includes controls for authenticating and authorizing users, encrypting data, and detecting and responding to security incidents.
• CA-4: Plan of Action and Milestones (POAM): This control requires organizations to develop a POAM to address the findings of security assessments. The POAM should identify the security controls that need to be implemented or enhanced, and the timeline for implementation or enhancement.
• CA-5: Security Authorization: This control requires organizations to authorize information systems for use. Security authorization should be based on the findings of security assessments and the POAM.
• CA-6: Continuous Monitoring: This control requires organizations to continuously monitor information systems for security threats and vulnerabilities.
• CA-7: Penetration Testing: This control requires organizations to conduct penetration testing on a regular basis to identify security vulnerabilities that may be exploited by adversaries.
• CA-8: Internal System Connections: This control requires organizations to implement security controls to protect internal system connections. This includes controls for authenticating and authorizing users, encrypting data, and detecting and responding to security incidents.

Benefits of Implementing the CA Control Family

There are a number of benefits to implementing the CA Control Family, including:

• Improved security: The CA Control Family helps to improve the security of information systems by conducting security assessments and authorizing information systems for use. This can help to identify and mitigate security risks, and ensure that information systems are secure before they are used.
• Reduced risk: The CA Control Family helps to reduce the risk of security incidents by identifying and mitigating security risks. This can help to protect information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
• Compliance: The CA Control Family can help organizations comply with applicable laws and regulations, such as the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Increased trust: By implementing the CA Control Family, organizations can demonstrate to their customers and partners that they are taking steps to protect their data.

How to Implement the CA Control Family

To implement the CA Control Family, organizations should follow these steps:

1. Develop a security assessment and authorization policy and procedures. This policy should define the roles and responsibilities for security assessments and authorization, and the process for conducting security assessments and authorizing information systems.
2. Conduct security assessments on a regular basis and after any changes to information systems. Security assessments should identify and assess the risks to information systems.
3. Implement security controls to protect system interconnections and internal system connections. This should include controls for authenticating and authorizing users, encrypting data, and detecting and responding to security incidents.
4. Develop a POAM to address the findings of security assessments. The POAM should identify the security controls that need to be implemented or enhanced, and the timeline for implementation or enhancement.
5. Authorize information systems for use based on the findings of security assessments and the POAM.
6. Continuously monitor information systems for security threats and vulnerabilities.
7. Conduct penetration testing on a regular basis to identify security vulnerabilities that may be exploited by adversaries.

Conclusion

The CA Control Family is an essential part of the RMF. By implementing the CA Control Family, organizations can improve the security of their information systems, reduce the risk of security incidents, comply with applicable laws and regulations, and increase trust with their customers and partners