Which outcome renders a risk determination by the authorizing official reflecting the risk management strategy including risk tolerance?

• A. A risk determination by the authorizing official is rendered.
• B. Risk responses for determined risks are provided.
• C. The authorization for the system is approved or denied.
• D. Ongoing assessments of control effectiveness are conducted.

Answer: (A)

In RMF, the authorizing official issues a formal risk determination that explicitly states whether the system’s residual risk is within the organization’s risk tolerance and aligned with the overall risk management strategy. This determination is the official verdict on risk posture and directly supports the authorization decision. That’s why selecting the outcome where a risk determination is rendered by the authorizing official is best—it represents the formal assessment of risk against the stated tolerance and strategy, before any final authorization decision is made.

Risk responses describe actions to mitigate or accept risks and occur after the risk is determined, not the determination itself. The authorization decision (approve or deny) follows once the risk determination is established, and ongoing assessments are part of continuous monitoring to keep the risk posture current, not the initial risk determination.