What is one key outcome of the accreditation process under a Certifying Authority?

The accreditation process under a Certifying Authority plays a critical role in ensuring that a system meets pre-defined security and operational standards. One of the primary outcomes of this process is the granting of an Authorization to Operate (ATO). An ATO signifies that a system has been evaluated and deemed acceptable for use within the relevant environment, indicating compliance with various security and operational requirements.

Obtaining an ATO involves rigorous assessments that can include evaluating security controls, risk management, and adherence to specific guidelines. This outcome is crucial because it provides assurance that the system is secure enough to operate without posing excessive risks to sensitive data or operations.

Other options, while relevant to overall data governance and security, do not directly reflect the main outcome of the accreditation process. For instance, data ownership and retention policies are important for managing data, and implementing data encryption is a technical safeguard to protect data privacy, but these aspects are typically evaluated as part of the broader security posture rather than being the direct result of the accreditation itself.