Describe the objectives of the CAP course.
The Certified Authorization Professional (CAP) course is designed to equip individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field of information security authorization and risk management. The course objectives are comprehensive and cover various domains within the realm of security authorization. Here are the key objectives of the CAP course:
1. Understanding the Risk Management Framework (RMF): The CAP course provides an in-depth understanding of the Risk Management Framework, a crucial process used in government agencies and organizations for the authorization and continuous monitoring of information systems. Students learn the stages of RMF, including system categorization, control selection, implementation, assessment, authorization, and monitoring.
2. Security Control Selection: Candidates gain expertise in selecting appropriate security controls based on system categorization and the organization's specific requirements. This involves understanding control families, control baselines, and tailoring controls to meet system needs.
3. Control Implementation: The course covers the practical aspects of implementing security controls within information systems. This includes configuring hardware and software, establishing security policies, and ensuring controls are properly integrated into the system architecture.
4. Security Control Assessment: Students learn how to assess the effectiveness of security controls through assessment techniques such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and security audits. They understand the importance of control assessments in identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
5. Authorization and Accreditation: CAP candidates become proficient in the authorization and accreditation process, which involves evaluating the overall security posture of an information system and making informed decisions regarding its operation. This includes understanding the roles of authorizing officials and accrediting authorities.
6. Governance and Enterprise Risk Management: The course delves into governance structures, risk management principles, and the integration of security authorization into an organization's enterprise risk management framework. Students learn to align security efforts with broader organizational objectives.
7. Compliance and Regulatory Frameworks: CAP candidates gain knowledge of various compliance requirements and regulatory frameworks relevant to information security. This includes understanding standards such as NIST Special Publication 800-53, FISMA, HIPAA, and others.
8. Security Documentation: The course emphasizes the importance of documenting security controls, assessments, and authorization decisions. Students learn to create comprehensive security documentation that is essential for compliance, audits, and reporting.
9. Continuous Monitoring: CAP candidates learn about the significance of continuous monitoring in maintaining the security and compliance of information systems. This includes understanding how to establish continuous monitoring programs and responding to security incidents and vulnerabilities.
10. Ethical Behavior and Professional Responsibility: The course instills ethical behavior and professional responsibility in candidates, emphasizing the importance of integrity, honesty, and adherence to the (ISC)² Code of Ethics.
11. Security Best Practices: Throughout the course, students are exposed to security best practices, industry standards, and emerging trends in information security authorization. This ensures that they stay current in the rapidly evolving field.
The CAP course is designed to prepare individuals to take the CAP exam, which assesses their mastery of these objectives. Achieving CAP certification demonstrates their expertise in security authorization and risk management and signifies their readiness to excel in roles related to information system authorization and compliance.