What does AFCAP mean in CYBER & SECURITY

The Air Force Certification and Accreditation Process (AFCAP) is an IT security process that evaluates the security posture of an organization's information systems and networks. This evaluation helps to ensure that systems meet government compliance requirements, as well as protect against unauthorized access to sensitive or critical resources.

The AFCAP process consists of four distinct steps - Security Categorization, System Security Plan (SSP) Development, Risk Assessment, and Authorization. Each step builds on information gathered from prior steps to accurately assess system security posture and prepare for continued authorization by a duly authorized designee.

A System Security Plan (SSP) is an official document created during the AFCAP process which outlines an organization's strategy for protecting its information systems from unauthorized access. The SSP will include details such as system architecture and design blueprints, user access control policies, asset management processes, system maintenance procedures, security incident response plans, and other operational/technical controls considered necessary.

In order to begin the AFCAP process, organizations should prepare all relevant documentation related to their IT infrastructure including system architecture diagrams or network topology maps; user access control policies; asset management processes; system maintenance procedures; and any other relevant operational or technical documents. They should also ensure they have available personnel who are trained in cyber risk management and can answer specific questions related to their IT environment during authorization discussions.

While every organization's timeline may vary based on existing IT infrastructure complexities, size of network/systems involved, schedule availability of personnel who can participate in authorization discussions etc., on average it takes about 1-2 months for most organizations to go through the entire certification process from start to finish.

After completing the AFCAP process your IT Security Officer (ITSO) is responsible for making a recommendation to a duly authorized designee for final approval of your system being certified or accredited. The duly authorized designee must be at least one level higher than your ITSO within your organizational hierarchy.

Throughout the entire AFCAP process organizations are provided with guidance by their local cyber security office or Cyber Protection Team (CPT). The CPT provides expertise in managing risks associated with Information Technology systems while assisting organizations in meeting their security compliance obligations prescribed by Federal directives & regulations.