Improve your cybersecurity with the seven Risk Management Framework steps
Cybersecurity is the foundation of any successful security program. Because of this, the DoD has standardized the approach to securing information systems through the Risk Management Framework (RMF). The RMF isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution but rather a seven-step process tailored to help you identify the correct mitigations for your program’s needs. These steps ensue you can seamlessly integrate cybersecurity into your program in an efficient and cost-effective way.
Let’s break down how these steps work to keep your system secure.
The Prepare Step
Ideally, the prepare step is something that is already implemented in your organization when you begin working through the RMF, because it involves risk assessment and monitoring for your program. Risk assessment is a continual process for companies holding a Facility Clearance (FCL), so even if you feel confident in your company’s threat preparedness, it doesn’t hurt to take this as an opportunity to evaluate your risks and existing risk mitigations. This step lays the groundwork for everything that follows.
In the prepare step, the focus is on preparing to manage security and privacy risks with the RMF at both the organization and system level. During this stage, necessary tasks include identifying and assigning the key roles for executing the RMF, developing a strategy for monitoring the effectiveness of security controls, completing a risk assessment on both the organization and the information system, and registering the system.
The Categorize Step
Here, you assess what the impact would be if an adverse action was taken against the system leading to a loss of confidentiality, integrity or availability of the system and the information it houses. The characteristics of the system are documented and the system and its information undergoes a security categorization that will be approved by senior members of your organization.
Categorizing your system creates a common language to prioritize security controls.. The rankings are low, moderate or high for the integrity, confidentiality and availability for the impact of an adverse action on various parts of the system like access control or privilege management. This will serve as a foundation for determining necessary security controls and mitigations in the next step.
The Select Step
The purpose of the select step is to select, tailor and document the controls necessary to protect the system and information for your program. This will be based on the risk you determined in the categorize step. The goal is to strike a balance between the effectiveness of your security controls and budget efficiency. You will also develop your strategy for continuous monitoring of the effectiveness of the controls during this step. The controls will either be assigned as system specific, like if they’re allocated to a specific machine element, hybrid, or common to the whole system.
The Implement Step
Now that the controls are selected, it’s time to implement them in the system. Document the specific details of how the controls are implemented and the baseline configuration. If there are any changes from how the controls were planned to be implemented to how they actually are, document that as well.
The Assess Step
Once you have your controls in place, you need to determine if they’re implemented correctly and reaching the desired results. Once you perform your initial assessment, you will conduct ongoing assessments in the monitor step.
A large part of this step is formalizing your assessment process by creating documentation that can be used in assessments and a plan for how those assessments will be conducted. If issues are found, the assessment step includes creating a plan of action to address the holes in your security.
The Authorize Step
The authorize step simply requires your Senior Management Official (SMO) to determine if the risk management strategy you’ve created thus far is acceptable. You will present them with an authorization package detailing your strategy for their approval.
The Monitor Step
Your final and ongoing step is the monitor step. Monitoring is crucial for FSOs. It’s where you keep an eye on security measures, fix issues as they arise and ensure the system’s running smoothly. You will put into action the continuous monitoring plans you created during the assess step and analyze and respond to those assessments. This is essentially the system and security maintenance step where you make sure everything is operating as intended and fix issues as they arise. During this step, develop a strategy for disposing of the information system should it ever be needed.
Navigating the RMF can feel overwhelming, but it’s essential for your program’s cybersecurity. If you’re stretched thin, Adamo FSO support team can integrate into your program, taking on tedious tasks like personnel clearance (PCL) management or annual briefings, helping you ensure compliance and freeing your time to focus on essential responsibilities. Contact us today to learn how Adamo can make your work life easier.
