Implementing Risk Management Framework at Mission Speed

By Sandra M.

The traditional RMF process, while foundational to cybersecurity compliance, is increasingly misaligned with the pace of today’s operational demands. Manual documentation, repetitive control validations, and delayed assessments continue to impede the timely deployment of mission-critical capabilities. These challenges are compounded by:

Lengthy Authorization Timelines

Achieving an ATO can take 12 to 18 months- sometimes even longer—due to sequential, manual workflows that require exhaustive documentation, multi-tiered reviews, and limited integration of security into the development lifecycle. It’s like building a house and only calling the inspector after it’s finished—when issues are found, everything must be torn down and rebuilt. Similarly, cybersecurity is often addressed after development is complete, causing rework and delays. A lack of standardization across systems and incomplete evidence for control implementation often cause delays during validation. This forces program offices into a reactive compliance posture, ultimately slowing down mission delivery.

Duplicative Compliance Work Across Systems

Imagine having to prove the safety of the same firewall over and over—across every system—even though it was already validated in another project. That’s what many organizations face today. Security controls are often revalidated across systems, even when those controls have already been approved within a shared infrastructure. Without leveraging inherited controls and reusable documentation, teams waste time, increase costs, and risk inconsistencies in how compliance requirements are interpreted.

Limited Visibility into System Security Posture

You can’t manage what you can’t see. Many agencies still rely on point-in-time assessments, providing only static snapshots of security compliance. But in fast-paced, agile environments, systems change rapidly, configurations shift, and new vulnerabilities emerge every day. Without real-time insights, decision-makers are left in the dark—unable to assess risk accurately or respond proactively. This limits Authorizing Officials’ (AOs) ability to make timely, risk-informed decisions.

Overburdened Security Teams and Labor-Intensive Processes

Managing RMF compliance often requires time-consuming administrative tasks—compiling evidence, maintaining documentation, tracking POA&Ms, and supporting control assessments—all on top of daily security operations. As system portfolios grow, the absence of automation and streamlined workflows only adds to the burden, increasing the risk of delays, staff burnout, and gaps in security coverage.

In environments where agility and resilience are imperative, there is a clear need to shift from static, one-time authorization models toward a more continuous, integrated, and automated RMF approach.

How ActioNet Simplifies RMF and Accelerates Outcomes

ActioNet supports agencies in streamlining and improving their RMF processes by moving away from traditional 3-year ATO cycles and embracing continuous compliance supported by automation. Our approach reduces complexity, minimizes manual overhead, and aligns cybersecurity efforts with mission delivery. We don’t just comply—we operationalize compliance to support mission success!

Security Control Inheritance and Platform-Level Reuse

• We reduce duplicative efforts by identifying and documenting common controls that can be inherited across multiple systems. By leveraging enterprise or platform-level security artifacts, our teams enable reuse of pre-approved documentation, accelerating compliance activities while ensuring consistency across the enterprise.

Integrated DevSecOps and CI/CD Pipelines

• ActioNet embeds RMF compliance into the system development lifecycle, enabling continuous security integration through DevSecOps practices. We support system owners in transitioning to continuous ATO (cATO) environments, allowing secure and agile deployments through automated control validations within software pipelines.

Compliance Automation and Dashboard-Driven Monitoring

• The Enterprise Mission Assurance Support Service (eMASS) and the Cyber Security Assessment and Management (CSAM) system are government-mandated compliance management platforms used to support RMF activities across the Department of Defense (DoD) and other federal agencies. While these systems are essential for tracking system compliance and managing security control documentation, they often present challenges—such as limited native automation, manual data entry requirements, and fragmented reporting capabilities. These limitations can slow down the compliance process and create unnecessary administrative burden for security teams. ActioNet helps automate control assessments, POA&M management, and continuous compliance tracking through integration with tools such as SteelCloud for STIG automation, eMASSter for POA&M generation and automated control data population and reporting in eMASS, and Axonius for asset inventory and control gap analysis. We also develop custom dashboards using Power BI or Tableau to aggregate data from eMASS or CSAM to deliver real-time visibility to Authorizing Officials (AOs) and mission stakeholders.

Workforce Readiness and Continuous Training

• ActioNet’s professional development and benefits program reflects our deep commitment to building a skilled, mission-ready workforce. We provide targeted training, cross-functional mentorship, and support for industry-recognized certifications—empowering our employees to grow their careers while contributing to high-impact, mission-driven work. Our investment in people not only strengthens team capability but also fosters a culture of excellence, innovation, and long-term career growth.