TL;DR: What an ATO Is in the DoD
A DoD Authorization to Operate (ATO) is the formal approval that a defense system meets RMF-based, FISMA-aligned security and privacy requirements to operate on DoD networks at an acceptable level of risk. The DoD ATO process follows NIST’s seven RMF steps—Prepare, Categorize, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorize, and Monitor—with an Authorizing Official (AO) reviewing the authorization package and accepting residual risk.
Traditional ATOs rely on point-in-time assessments and may require reassessment or reauthorization for major updates or as determined by DoD policy. Continuous Authority to Operate (cATO) is an RMF-aligned ongoing authorization model that uses continuous monitoring, DevSecOps, and real-time risk decisions to approve frequent updates faster.
What Is an ATO in the DOD?
A Department of Defense (DoD) Authorization to Operate (ATO) is the formal approval that a defense system can protect sensitive information and operate without exposing DoD networks to unacceptable risk. It’s granted by an Authorizing Official after reviewing RMF evidence and testing results.
Obtaining an ATO requires applying the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Risk Management Framework (NIST RMF), as implemented by DoDI 8510.01, to authorize systems to operate on DoD networks. The DoD ATO process directly follows the NIST RMF:
- Prepare: Identify key risk management roles, define an organizational risk strategy with tolerance levels, and establish a comprehensive risk assessment framework with tailored control baselines.
- Categorize: Assess the system's impact level based on confidentiality, integrity, and availability using NIST FIPS 199 guidelines.
- Select Security Controls: Based on system categorization, select a baseline set of security controls from NIST SP 800-53B, supplementing as needed to address specific risks.
- Implement Security Controls: Implement the selected security controls and document their deployment and integration within the system.
- Assess Security Controls: Verify effective risk mitigation with a comprehensive assessment of the implemented controls, including penetration testing and vulnerability scanning.
- Authorize the System: Compile an Authorization Package for the Authorizing Official's review and risk assessment to determine whether to grant the ATO based on the system’s security posture.
- Monitor Security Controls: After ATO approval, continuously monitor the system with regular assessments, updates, and reporting to maintain security and address emerging threats.
Note: This list is a high-level overview of the RMF process—multiple steps in each section must be completed. More information is available on NIST's website or when working with an experienced partner like Rise8.
What Is the Purpose of ATO for the DOD?
Like all federal agencies, the primary purpose of an Authorization to Operate for DOD is to ensure an information system meets specific security standards and has an acceptable level of risk to operate on a network. The risk management process to obtain an ATO emerged from efforts to safeguard critical infrastructure. This process can help identify and mitigate vulnerabilities that could compromise the system or the data it handles.
Do All Federal Systems Require an ATO?
Yes, all government agencies must obtain an ATO for new or modified IT systems to mitigate security risks and meet FISMA compliance requirements:
- Perform System Risk Categorization
- Meet Baseline Security Controls
- Document Controls in the System Security Plan
- Perform Risk Management
- Conduct Annual Security Reviews
- Implement Continuous Monitoring
Continuous Authorization To Operate: A Way Forward for the DOD
The traditional ATO process, while thorough, is not optimized for today’s fast-paced software development cycles. cATO is a more dynamic and ongoing approach. Rather than a periodic reevaluation for major updates or at a set interval, cATO requires consistent and ongoing authorizations to ensure compliance with security standards. Continuous monitoring tools and practices help identify and mitigate risks as they arise, providing a more flexible and responsive approach to system security.
The Continuous Authority to Operate (cATO) Agile framework offers three main benefits:
- Enhanced Security: Reduce security defects and risks through threat analysis and secure coding. The Secure Release Pipeline enables continuous vulnerability detection, remediation, and cybersecurity education for development teams.
- Increased Transparency: Provide default access to evidence artifacts—source code, documents, and diagrams—throughout the software lifecycle, making it easier for security assessors to support continuous monitoring and automate risk assessments incrementally.
- Cost Savings & Value Delivery: Leverage cloud environments to cut costs and deliver value faster. Result: software ships in hours or days, not weeks or months.
Rise8: Continuous Improvement, Simplified
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