Which organization within the DCSA’s A&A framework provides the authorization decision recommendation to the AO?

• A. Information Systems Security Professional/Security Control Assessor (ISSP/SCA)
• B. Defense Industrial Base (DIB)
• C. Defense Visit Office (DVO)
• D. Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC)

Answer: (A)

In this framework, the person or team that builds the evidence of how well the security controls are working and then provides the recommendation to authorize is the Security Control Assessor, often led by an Information Systems Security Professional. They conduct the assessment, gather and evaluate the security evidence, identify vulnerabilities or risks, and compile the Security Assessment Report with an authorization recommendation. The Authorization Official uses that assessment to make the final risk-based decision to grant or deny authorization.

The other options don’t fit this role: the Defense Industrial Base is the supply base the system may interact with, not an A&A body; the Defense Visit Office handles site visits but doesn’t issue authorization recommendations; and the Defense Technical Information Center is a repository for technical data, not part of the A&A decision process.