In CAP, who is responsible for reviewing and accepting risk for systems?

The Authorizing Official (AO) is the individual primarily responsible for reviewing and accepting risks associated with the systems within an organization. This role involves overseeing the entire risk management process and making informed decisions about whether to accept the risk after evaluating the effectiveness of the security controls in place. The AO has the authority to formally accept the risk on behalf of the organization, thus enabling the system to operate.

Understanding the importance of this role is crucial, as it directly impacts the organization's risk posture and security framework. The AO's decisions are based on comprehensive assessments of threats, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts on the organization's operations and assets. This level of authority and responsibility underlines why the Authorizing Official is specifically designated for this task within the risk management framework.