The Federal System Owner in the Age of Continuous Authorization

Introduction: When Ownership No Longer Means Control
Federal system ownership is undergoing a quiet but consequential transformation (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], 2018; Office of Management and Budget [OMB], 2016). For decades, system ownership was understood largely in terms of delivery milestones, budget accountability, and compliance with episodic authorization processes. Systems were authorized, operated, reassessed, and reauthorized on predictable cycles. Confidence was assumed to persist between reviews, and governance attention focused on preparing for the next formal checkpoint.

This model no longer reflects reality.
From Episodic Authorization To Continuous Confidence
Modern federal systems evolve continuously. They integrate shared . . .