Certification and Accreditation (C&A) in Information Security

AC.

Certification and Accreditation (C&A or CnA) is a process for implementing information security.

It is a systematic procedure for evaluating, describing, testing, and authorizing systems prior to or after a system is in operation.

The C&A process is used extensively in the U.S.

Federal Government.

Some C&A processes include FISMA, NIACAP, DIACAP, and DCID 6/3

Certification is a comprehensive assessment of the management, operational, and technical security controls in an information system, made in support of security accreditation, to determine the extent to which the controls are implemented correctly, operating as intended, and producing the desired outcome with respect to meeting the security requirements for the system.

Accreditation is the official management decision given by a senior agency official to authorize operation of an information system and to explicitly accept the risk to agency operations (including mission, functions, image, or reputation), agency assets, or individuals, based on the implementation of an agreed-upon set of security controls.

Certification and Accreditation (C&A or CnA) is a process that is used to ensure the security of an information system. The process is designed to be systematic and thorough, and it involves evaluating, describing, testing, and authorizing systems prior to or after they are in operation.

Certification is a comprehensive assessment of the management, operational, and technical security controls in an information system. It is typically conducted by an independent third party who evaluates the system against a set of predefined security standards. The certification process includes a review of the system's policies, procedures, and controls, as well as testing to ensure that the system is operating securely.

Accreditation is the official management decision given by a senior agency official to authorize operation of an information system. It is based on the results of the certification process and is granted when the system has been found to meet all of the predefined security requirements. The accreditation decision is based on a risk assessment that takes into account the value of the system, the likelihood of a security breach, and the potential impact of a security breach.

In summary, both Certification and Accreditation are comprehensive assessments of the management, operational, and technical security controls in an information system. Certification is an evaluation of the system against predefined security standards, while accreditation is the official management decision to authorize the system's operation based on the results of the certification process.