Guideline for Computer Security Certification and Accreditation

This Guideline is intended for use by ADP managers and technical staff in establishing and carrying out a program and a technical process for computer security certification and accreditation of sensitive computer applications. It identifies and describes the steps involved in performing computer security certification and accreditation; it identifies and discusses important issues in managing a computer security certification and accreditation program; it identifies and describes the principal functional roles needed within an organization to carry out such a program; and it contains sample outlines of an Application Certification Plan and a Security Evaluation Report as well as a sample Accreditation Statement and sensitivity classification scheme. A discussion of recertification and reaccreditation and its relation to change control is also included. The Guideline also relates certification and accreditation to risk analysis, EDP audit, validation, verification and testing (VV&T), and the system life cycle. A comprehensive list of references is included.