ATO

An Authority to Operate is the formal authorization granted to an information system to process, store, or transmit government data based on successful completion of security assessment and authorization processes. ATO certification confirms that security controls meet applicable requirements and residual risks are acceptable.

Contractors operating systems that process government data must obtain and maintain ATOs through compliance with frameworks such as FISMA, FedRAMP, or RMF. ATO requirements significantly impact IT contract timelines and costs. Understanding ATO processes, including security documentation, testing, and continuous monitoring requirements, is essential for government IT contractors.