The Risk Management Framework exists because earlier accreditation models treated security as a one-time inspection. RMF reframes authorisation as an ongoing risk decision made by a named official on the basis of evidence.
From compliance to risk
Under the older DIACAP approach a system passed or failed against a fixed control list. RMF asks a different question: given what this system does and what could go wrong, is the residual risk acceptable to the organisation right now?
The seven steps
Prepare, Categorise, Select, Implement, Assess, Authorise and Monitor. The steps are described in NIST SP 800-37 and adopted by DoD through DoDI 8510.01. Each produces artefacts the next step consumes.
Why it matters to your work
Every document you write, every scan you run and every finding you track feeds a decision by an authorising official. Understanding that decision tells you which evidence matters and which is busywork.
Action step
Locate the current revision of NIST SP 800-37 and DoDI 8510.01. Write a one-sentence summary of what each of the seven steps produces as output.
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