What is the role of the Authorizing Official (AO) in the RMF process?

The Authorizing Official (AO) plays a critical role in the Risk Management Framework (RMF) process, particularly in the context of ensuring that information systems operate within acceptable risk levels. By assuming responsibility for acceptable risk related to the information system, the AO is responsible for making informed risk management decisions that affect the organization's security posture. This includes evaluating risk assessments, approving system authorizations, and ensuring that the system complies with applicable policies and security requirements.

This role is vital because the AO's decisions have implications for the overall security strategy of the organization, influencing how resources are allocated and how security controls are implemented. The AO weighs the potential impacts of security risks against organizational mission objectives and resource constraints, thus playing a decisive role in maintaining a balance between operational efficiency and security compliance.

In this function, the AO must be well-informed about both the technical aspects of the information systems under their purview as well as the organizational context to make decisions that support mission success while safeguarding sensitive information and resources.