Security Control Assessor refers to which of the following?

• A. The individual, group, or organization responsible for conducting a security control assessment.
• B. The System Owner.
• C. The Security Operations Center.
• D. The External Auditor.

Answer: (A)

In this context, the Security Control Assessor is the person or group responsible for performing the formal evaluation of the security controls. Their job is to assess whether the controls are properly implemented and operating effectively, producing findings that inform the authorization decision. This aligns with the role's purpose in the RMF/FISMA process, especially during the assess step where evidence is gathered and tested to determine if the system meets the required security requirements.

The System Owner is primarily responsible for the system’s operation and ensuring controls are in place, but not the formal assessment itself. The Security Operations Center focuses on real-time monitoring and incident response rather than conducting structured control assessments. An External Auditor could conduct audits, but the defined role of the Security Control Assessor is specifically the designated party responsible for conducting the security control assessment, whether internal or external, and for documenting the assessment results.