Continuous ATO (Authority to Operate) accelerates secure software delivery by integrating risk management, automation, and compliance into the DevSecOps pipeline.
Federal organizations face long delays—often 6 to 12 months—waiting for ATO approvals that certify systems for production. This webinar explores how adopting a continuous ATO model can dramatically reduce timelines by embedding security and compliance within the software development life cycle (SDLC).
What Is ATO and Why Is It a Bottleneck?
ATO is a formal approval process ensuring a system is secure enough for operational use, but it’s often slow, manual, and people-dependent.
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Requires authorizing officials to evaluate risks and approve system deployment.
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Based on frameworks like NIST 800-37 (Risk Management Framework – RMF).
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Typically involves manual documentation, spreadsheets, and subjective decisions.
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Final approval is often delayed until the end of development, creating bottlenecks.
The Risk Management Framework (RMF): A Foundation for ATO
RMF provides a structured approach to managing security and privacy risks throughout the system development lifecycle.
| RMF Step | Description |
|---|---|
| Categorize | Define the system’s impact and criticality. |
| Select | Choose relevant security controls (e.g., from NIST 800-53). |
| Implement | Integrate controls into architecture and code. |
| Assess | Test controls through static analysis, penetration tests, etc. |
| Authorize | Officials review artifacts and approve deployment. |
| Monitor | Continuously track changes and evolving risks post-deployment. |
Why Traditional ATO Processes Fail Modern Development
Manual ATO is incompatible with Agile and DevOps practices, leading to delays, inefficiencies, and security risks.
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Approval often comes too late, after full development is complete.
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Systems are reassessed from scratch after every change.
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Risk acceptance is often rushed due to time pressure from stakeholders.
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Frequent changes and updates invalidate the original ATO letter.
What Is Continuous ATO?
Continuous ATO embeds automated security checks, monitoring, and evidence collection directly into DevSecOps workflows.
Key principles:
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Platform Authorization: Certify the CI/CD infrastructure and base containers.
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Process Authorization: Validate secure development and deployment practices.
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Team Authorization: Train and certify staff on secure coding and compliance.
Building a Secure DevSecOps Pipeline
A well-integrated pipeline allows for real-time risk assessment, compliance reporting, and artifact generation.
| Component | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Static Analysis | Identify code-level vulnerabilities early. |
| Container Security | Scan infrastructure-as-code and container configs. |
| Threat Modeling | Identify architectural risks and prioritize controls. |
| Traceability | Link commits and controls to security requirements. |
| Just-In-Time Training | Deliver microlearning based on detected issues. |
Benefits of Continuous ATO
By shifting left and automating risk and compliance, organizations can achieve faster, safer software delivery.
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Reduces ATO approval time from 6–12 months to weeks or days.
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Enables reuse of pre-authorized components (e.g., secure containers).
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Enhances collaboration between development, security, and risk teams.
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Promotes a culture of shared accountability for security.
Best Practices for Implementation
Successful continuous ATO requires cultural change, tooling integration, and process alignment.
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Integrate compliance goals into Agile backlogs and sprint planning.
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Use modular architectures and containerization to simplify reauthorization.
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Define metrics tied to business value and security posture.
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Automate evidence collection and map artifacts to compliance controls.
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Educate teams on secure development via embedded training tools.
Conclusion: Moving Toward Secure, Agile Compliance
Continuous ATO is not just a technical shift—it’s an organizational transformation aligning security, speed, and compliance.
Organizations should assess where their ATO process is failing, identify high-value automation opportunities, and progressively evolve toward a fully integrated DevSecOps model.