Roles and responsibilities in the RMF

There are numerous stakeholders involved in implementing the RMF in your organization. In this section, we’ll give a breakdown of each role and what their responsibilities are as it pertains to the implementation of the NIST RMF.

Authorizing Official

The AO plays a pivotal role in the NIST RMF process. Their primary responsibility is to make the final decision regarding ATO for an information system. This decision is based on a comprehensive review of the results of security control assessments and an assessment of residual risks. To execute this role effectively, the AO must have a profound understanding of the RMF process, organizational security policies, and the system’s specific requirements. They must be able to weigh the assessment findings against security standards and acceptable risk levels.

In carrying out their responsibilities, the AO should communicate effectively with other RMF stakeholders, such as the Chief...