Certification and Accreditation (C&A) is:

• A. A process for implementing any formal process; a systematic procedure for evaluating, describing, testing, and authorizing systems or activities prior to or after a system is in operation.
• B. A one-time hardware inspection routine.
• C. A security training program.
• D. A marketing certification.

Answer: (A)

It’s the formal, structured process used to ensure a system meets security requirements before it operates and continues to be secure after deployment. Certification involves evaluating and testing the security controls and verifying that the system is described accurately and meets the stated security standards. Accreditation is the official authorization to operate, granted by an appropriate authority, based on the risk assessment and the certification results. This isn’t just a hardware check, a security training program, or a marketing credential—it's a documented, risk-based process that ties the system’s security posture to an official approval to operate.