Which roles must be assigned only to government personnel?

Which roles must be assigned only to government personnel?

• A. Senior Information Security Officer
• B. Information System Architect
• C. Information System Security Engineer
• D. Authorizing Official

Answer: (A)

The Senior Information Security Officer role must be assigned only to government personnel due to the critical nature of security oversight and policy enforcement within federal agencies. This role is responsible for ensuring that information security programs align with federal regulations and policies, often having direct authority over insider threats, risk management, and compliance with federal standards such as FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act). Having government personnel in this position is important because they have a vested interest in the integrity and security of government information. They understand the specific context, risks, and requirements of the agency and can effectively manage the security posture of the organization. Additionally, as this role often involves sensitive and classified information, it is a critical security function that prevents conflicts of interest and ensures accountability to the public. In contrast, while other roles like the Information System Architect, Information System Security Engineer, and Authorizing Official are crucial, they do not carry the same mandatory requirement for government personnel exclusively. These roles can sometimes be filled by contractors or external experts, especially in technical or advisory capacities where the focus may be more on expertise than on governance and accountability to the public.

The Senior Information Security Officer role must be assigned only to government personnel due to the critical nature of security oversight and policy enforcement within federal agencies. This role is responsible for ensuring that information security programs align with federal regulations and policies, often having direct authority over insider threats, risk management, and compliance with federal standards such as FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act).

Having government personnel in this position is important because they have a vested interest in the integrity and security of government information. They understand the specific context, risks, and requirements of the agency and can effectively manage the security posture of the organization. Additionally, as this role often involves sensitive and classified information, it is a critical security function that prevents conflicts of interest and ensures accountability to the public.

In contrast, while other roles like the Information System Architect, Information System Security Engineer, and Authorizing Official are crucial, they do not carry the same mandatory requirement for government personnel exclusively. These roles can sometimes be filled by contractors or external experts, especially in technical or advisory capacities where the focus may be more on expertise than on governance and accountability to the public.