Certified Authorization Professional (CAP) Practice Exam

The Authorization Decision Document (ADD) is the key document that specifies the responsibilities of the Authorizing Official (AO). This document outlines the decision made by the AO regarding the authorization of the information system, detailing the specific responsibilities and the risks that are accepted. It serves as a formal acknowledgment of the risks associated with the operation of the system and the security controls that are in place or need to be implemented.

The ADD ensures that the AO has a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities, including the authority to approve the system for operation based on the assessment of its security posture. This makes the ADD a critical component in the risk management framework, as it helps to define the accountability and the decision-making framework for the AO in relation to the system's security.

In contrast, other documents play different roles in the security authorization process. For example, the Security Assessment Report provides insights into the effectiveness of security controls, the System Security Plan details how the security requirements are managed and implemented, and the Incident Response Plan outlines how to respond to security incidents. While these documents are important, they do not specifically delineate the responsibilities of the AO like the ADD does.