Exam CSSLP topic 1 question 96 discussion

ATO stands for Authorization to Operate and is a formal determination issued by the Designated Accreditation Authority (DAA) stating that a particular system or application has been assessed, evaluated, and found to have an acceptable level of security controls in place. An ATO indicates that the organization responsible for the system/application has completed all necessary steps in adhering to established guidelines, policies, and regulations. An ATO includes documentation indicating compliance with federal standards such as CNSSI 1253, NIST SP 800-53 Rev4 requirements. The authorization process involves conducting comprehensive testing and evaluation of all relevant security controls based on the information gathered during earlier stages. Organizational leadership will determine if this risk is acceptable before issuing an ATO.

IATO stands for Interim Authorization to Operate. It is an accreditation determination issued by the Designated Accreditation Authority (DAA) that allows a system or application to operate on an interim basis while a full assessment of its security controls and risks is being conducted. This determination may be given when there is an urgent need for the system/application to become operational, but a full Assessment and Authorization (A&A) process has not yet been completed. An IATO typically remains in effect until the A&A process can be fully completed, which involves conducting comprehensive testing and evaluation of all relevant security controls and documenting their effectiveness in mitigating identified risks.

A Designated Accreditation Authority (DAA) is an individual or group responsible for making formal accreditation determinations regarding a given system, network, application or organization. The DAA ensures that critical data-related assets such as networks and applications meet stringent regulatory security controls established by government bodies. This person has full authority over decision-making relating to information security and operational risk management and oversee periodic reviews and assessments of systems/applications to ensure continued compliance with established standards.