Achieving Continuous ATO through Security

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.

  • Requires authorizing officials to evaluate risks and approve system deployment.

  • Based on frameworks like NIST 800-37 (Risk Management Framework – RMF).

  • Typically involves manual documentation, spreadsheets, and subjective decisions.

  • 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.

  • Approval often comes too late, after full development is complete.

  • Systems are reassessed from scratch after every change.

  • Risk acceptance is often rushed due to time pressure from stakeholders.

  • 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:

  • Platform Authorization: Certify the CI/CD infrastructure and base containers.

  • Process Authorization: Validate secure development and deployment practices.

  • 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.

  • Reduces ATO approval time from 6–12 months to weeks or days.

  • Enables reuse of pre-authorized components (e.g., secure containers).

  • Enhances collaboration between development, security, and risk teams.

  • Promotes a culture of shared accountability for security.

Best Practices for Implementation

Successful continuous ATO requires cultural change, tooling integration, and process alignment.

  • Integrate compliance goals into Agile backlogs and sprint planning.

  • Use modular architectures and containerization to simplify reauthorization.

  • Define metrics tied to business value and security posture.

  • Automate evidence collection and map artifacts to compliance controls.

  • 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.