FedRAMP Plan Of Actions And Milestones (POA&M) Completion Guide CSP POAM

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FedRAMP Plan of Actions
and Milestones (POA&M)
Template Completion
Guide
Version 2.0
January 31, 2018
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DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY
DATE
VERSION
PAGE(S)
DESCRIPTION
AUTHOR
02/18/2015
1.0
All
Publish Date
FedRAMP PMO
09/01/2015
1.1
All
Clarifications and format updates
FedRAMP PMO
10/21/2016
1.2
4-5
Instructions for the new Integrated Inventory
Template Section 2.3; Operational Requirements –
False Positive Updates to Table 2 – POA&M Items
Column Information Description and Section 2.3
FedRAMP PMO
6/6/2017
1.2
Title
Updated Logo
FedRAMP PMO
1/31/2018
2.0
All
General changes to grammar and use of terminology
to add clarity, as well as consistency with other
FedRAMP documents.
FedRAMP PMO
1/31/2018
2.0
3
Corrected conflicting information in Sections 2 and
2.3 of the POA&M Template Completion Guide
regarding the FedRAMP Integrated Inventory
Workbook Template.
FedRAMP PMO
1/31/2018
2.0
6
Added text instructing CSPs to deliver the inventory
workbook template as part of their monthly
ConMon package, along with or included in their
POA&M, in the same location as their POA&M.
FedRAMP PMO
1/31/2018
2.0
7
Updated guidance that findings from automated
tools only need to be added to the POA&M once
they are late.
FedRAMP PMO
1/31/2018
2.0
7
Automated tool findings identified as Low will be
considered late after 180 calendar days.
FedRAMP PMO
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ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This document provides guidance on completing the Federal Risk and Authorization Management
Program (FedRAMP) Plan of Action and Milestones (POA&M) Template in support of achieving and
maintaining a security authorization that meets FedRAMP requirements.
This document is not a FedRAMP template – there is nothing to fill out in this document.
This document uses the term authorizing official (AO). For systems with a Joint Authorization Board (JAB)
provisional authorization to operate (P-ATO), AO refers primarily to the JAB unless this document
explicitly says Agency AO. For systems with a FedRAMP Agency authorization to operate (ATO), AO
refers to each leveraging Agency’s AO.
The term authorization refers to either a FedRAMP JAB P-ATO or a FedRAMP Agency ATO.
The term third-party assessment organization (3PAO) refers to an accredited 3PAO. Use of an accredited
3PAO is required for systems with a FedRAMP JAB P-ATO; however, for systems with a FedRAMP Agency
ATO this may refer to any assessment organization designated by the Agency AO.
WHO SHOULD USE THIS DOCUMENT?
This document is intended to be used by Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), 3PAOs, government contractors
working on FedRAMP projects, and government employees working on FedRAMP projects.
HOW TO CONTACT US
Questions about FedRAMP or this document should be directed to info@fedramp.gov.
For more information about FedRAMP, visit the website at http://www.fedramp.gov.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
DOCUMENT REVISION HISTORY .......................................................................................................... I
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT ................................................................................................................... II
WHO SHOULD USE THIS DOCUMENT?................................................................................................ II
HOW TO CONTACT US ....................................................................................................................... II
1. INTRODUCTION .........................................................................................................................1
1.1. POA&M Purpose ............................................................................................................1
1.2. Scope ............................................................................................................................2
2. POA&M TEMPLATE ....................................................................................................................2
2.1. Worksheet 1: Open POA&M Items .................................................................................2
2.2. Worksheet 2: Closed POA&M Items................................................................................6
2.3. Integrated Inventory Workbook .....................................................................................6
3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS ..........................................................................................................7
APPENDIX A: FEDRAMP ACRONYMS ...............................................................................................8
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. POA&M Items Header Information Description ......................................................................2
Table 2. POA&M Items Column Information Description .....................................................................3
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1. INTRODUCTION
This document provides guidance for completing and maintaining a FedRAMP-compliant POA&M using
the FedRAMP POA&M Template. The POA&M is a key document in the security authorization package
and monthly continuous monitoring activities. It identifies the system’s known weaknesses and security
deficiencies, and describes the specific activities the CSP will take to correct them.
A CSP applying for a FedRAMP JAB P-ATO, or a FedRAMP Agency ATO, must establish and maintain a
POA&M for their system in accordance with this POA&M Template Completion Guide using the
FedRAMP POA&M Template. The FedRAMP POA&M Template is available separately at:
http://www.fedramp.gov/.
The FedRAMP POA&M Template provides the required information presentation format for preparing
and maintaining a POA&M for the system. The CSP may add to the format, as necessary, to comply with
its internal policies and FedRAMP requirements; however, CSPs are not permitted to alter or delete
existing columns or headers.
1.1. POA&M PURPOSE
The purpose of the POA&M is to facilitate a disciplined and structured approach to tracking risk-
mitigation activities in accordance with the CSP’s priorities. The POA&M includes security findings for
the system from periodic security assessments and ongoing continuous monitoring activities. The
POA&M includes the CSP’s intended corrective actions and current disposition for those findings.
FedRAMP uses the POA&M to monitor the CSP’s progress in correcting these findings.
The POA&M includes the:
Security categorization of the cloud information system;
Specific weaknesses or deficiencies in deployed security controls;
Importance of the identified security control weaknesses or deficiencies;
Scope of the weakness in components within the environment; and
Proposed risk mitigation approach to address the identified weaknesses or deficiencies in the
security control implementations (e.g., prioritization of risk mitigation actions and allocation of
risk mitigation resources).
The POA&M identifies: (i) the tasks the CSP plans to accomplish, including a recommendation for
completion either before or after information system implementation; (ii) any milestones the CSP has
set in place for meeting the tasks; and (iii) the scheduled completion dates the CSP has set for each
milestone.
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1.2. SCOPE
The scope of the POA&M includes security control implementations, including all management,
operational, and technical implementations, that have unacceptable weaknesses or deficiencies. The
CSP is required to submit an updated POA&M to the AO in accordance with the FedRAMP Continuous
Monitoring Strategy & Guide.
2. POA&M TEMPLATE
The FedRAMP POA&M Template is an Excel Workbook containing two worksheets:
Open POA&M Items, which contains the unresolved entries; and
Closed POA&M Items, which contains resolved entries.
2.1. WORKSHEET 1: OPEN POA&M ITEMS
The Open POA&M Items worksheet has two sections. The top section of the worksheet contains basic
information about the system, which is described in Table 1. POA&M Items Header Information
Description, below. The bottom section is a list that enumerates each open POA&M entry, which is
described in Table 2. POA&M Items Column Information Description, below.
Table 1. POA&M Items Header Information Description
IDENTITY ASSURANCE LEVEL (IAL)
The Vendor Name as supplied in the documents provided to the AO.
The Information System Name as supplied in the documents provided to the AO.
Cloud Service Offerings (CSOs) are categorized as Low, Moderate, or High based on a
completed FIPS 199/800-60 evaluation. FedRAMP supports CSOs with High, Moderate,
and Low security impact levels.
The date the POA&M was last updated. For an initial authorization, this is the date to
which the CSP committed in their continuous monitoring plan.
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The bottom section of the Open POA&M Items worksheet includes the CSP’s corrective action plan used
to track IT security weaknesses. This section of the POA&M worksheet has similarities to the National
Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) format requirements; however, it contains additional
data and formatting as required by FedRAMP.
Table 2. POA&M Items Column Information Description
COLUMN
DETAILS
Column A – POA&M ID
Assign a unique identifier to each POA&M item. While this can be in any format or
naming convention that produces uniqueness, FedRAMP recommends the convention
V-<incremented number> (e.g., V-123). This identifier is assigned by the CSP to a
unique vulnerability in the CSP system. If a vulnerability is identified during the annual
assessment and/or the monthly continuous monitoring effort, and that vulnerability is
already uniquely identified in the existing POA&M, the CSP and 3PAO must use the
same POA&M ID. In other words, do not assign a different ID to a vulnerability that is
already documented in the POA&M.
Column B – Controls
Specify the FedRAMP security control affected by the weakness identified during the
security assessment process.
Column C – Weakness
Name
Specify a name for the identified weakness that provides a general idea of the
weakness. Use the Weakness Name provided by the security assessor, or taken from
the vulnerability scanner that discovered the weakness.
Column D – Weakness
Description
Describe the weakness identified during the assessment process. Use the Weakness
Description provided by the security assessor or the vulnerability scanner that
discovered the weakness. Provide sufficient data to facilitate oversight and tracking.
This description must demonstrate awareness of the weakness and facilitate the
creation of specific milestones to address the weakness. In cases where it is necessary
to provide sensitive information to describe the weakness, italicize the sensitive
information to identify it and include a note in the description stating that it is
sensitive.
Column E – Weakness
Detector Source
Specify the name of the 3PAO, vulnerability scanner, or other entity that first identified
the weakness. In cases where there are multiple 3PAOs, include each one on a new
line.
Column F – Weakness
Source Identifier
Often, the scanner/assessor will provide an identifier (ID/Reference #) that specifies the
weakness in question. This allows further research of the weakness. Provide the
identifier, or state that no identifier exists.
Column G – Asset
Identifier
List the asset/platform on which the weakness was found. This must correspond to the
Asset Identifier for the item provided in the system’s Integrated Inventory Workbook.
The inventory workbook must be maintained as part of the CSP’s configuration
management processes, and submitted as one of continuous monitoring deliverables
each month. Include a complete Asset Identifier for each affected asset. Do not use an
abbreviation or “shorthand.” The CSP may obfuscate the asset information when it is
required by the internal policies of the CSP. The Asset Identifier must be unique and
consistent across all POA&M documents, 3PAOs, and any vulnerability scanning tools.
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COLUMN
DETAILS
Column H – Point of
Contact
Identify the person/role that the AO holds responsible for resolving the weakness. The
CSP must identify and document a Point of Contact (POC) for each reported weakness.
Column I – Resources
Required
Identify resources required for resolving the weakness and when applicable, provide an
estimated staff time in hours.
Column J – Overall
Remediation Plan
Provide a high-level summary of the actions required to remediate the plan. In cases
where it is necessary to provide sensitive information to describe the remediation plan,
italicize the sensitive information to identify it and include a note in the description
stating that it is sensitive.
Column K – Original
Detection Date
Provide the month, day, and year when the weakness was first detected. This must be
consistent with the Security Assessment Report (SAR) and/or any continuous
monitoring activities. The CSP may not change the Original Detection Date.
Column L – Scheduled
Completion Date
The CSP must assign a completion date to every weakness that includes the month,
day, and year. The Scheduled Completion Date column must not change once it is
recorded. See Section 2.2 for guidance on closing a POA&M item.
Column M – Planned
Milestones
Each weakness must have a milestone entered with it that identifies specific actions to
correct the weakness with an associated completion date. Planned Milestone entries
shall not change once they are recorded.
Column N – Milestone
Changes
List any changes to existing milestones in Column M, Planned Milestones, in this
column.
Column O – Status Date
This column must provide the latest date an action was taken to remediate the
weakness or some change was made to the POA&M item.
Column P – Vendor
Dependency
This column indicates the remediation of the weakness required by the action of a third
party vendor (e.g., through the issuing of a patch that is not yet released). The CSP is
required to check the status of the vendor’s remedy at least every 30 days.
As long as the fix is still pending from the vendor, and the CSP has checked-in within 30
days of POA&M submission, FedRAMP will not count the entry as late.
Once the vendor makes the fix available, the CSP has 30 days to remediate high
vulnerabilities, 90 days to remediate moderate vulnerabilities, and 180 days to
remediate low vulnerabilities from the date the vendor makes the fix available. The CSP
must provide the vendor’s release date in column Z (comments). In this case, the CSP
may overwrite the auto-calculated scheduled completion date found in column L.
Column Q – Last Vendor
Check-in Date
This column is used to record the date the CSP most recently checked-in with a third
party vendor regarding the availability of an un-released remedy for a known product
vulnerability. If Column P – Vendor Dependency is “Yes,” the CSP must check-in with the
third-party vendor at least every 30 days and record the most recent date of check-in
here. If Column P – Vendor Dependency is “No,” the CSP may leave this column blank.
Column R – Vendor
Dependent Product
Name
If Column P – Vendor Dependency is “Yes,” the CSP must provide the name of the
product that the third-party vendor has responsibility. If Column P – Vendor
Dependency is “No,” the CSP may leave this column blank.
Column S – Original Risk
Rating
Provide the original risk rating of the weakness at the time it was identified as part of
an assessment and/or continuous monitoring activities.
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COLUMN
DETAILS
Column T – Adjusted
Risk Rating
Provide the adjusted risk rating after a FedRAMP Deviation Request Form is submitted.
If no risk adjustment is made, state N/A. In the case that the scanner changes its risk
rating from a lower to a higher risk rating, the CSP may update this column and set
column U to “Yes.” No deviation request form is necessary in this case.
Column U – Risk
Adjustment
State the status of the deviation request for a risk adjustment request. If the CSP
believes a risk adjustment is appropriate, they must set this column to “Pending” and
immediately submit a deviation request to their AO using the FedRAMP Deviation
Request Form, including mitigating factors. If the AO approves the deviation request,
the CSP must change this to “Yes.” If the AO denies the deviation request, or if the CSP
does not intend to request a risk adjustment, the CSP must set this entry to “No.”
The CSP must set this column to “pending” if submitting a risk adjustment. The
adjustment is finalized (setting the Risk Adjustment to “yes”) if it is approved by the AO.
Only AO-approved risk adjustments may alter the scheduled completion date.
Column V – False
Positive
State the status of the deviation request for a false positive (FP). A FP occurs when a
vulnerability is identified that does not actually exist on the system. This is known to
happen from time-to-time with scanning tools. If the CSP believes a finding is an FP,
they must set this column to “Pending” and immediately submit a deviation request to
their AO using the FedRAMP Deviation Request Form, including evidence of the FP. If
the AO approves the deviation request, the CSP must change this to “Yes.” If the AO
denies the deviation request, or if the CSP does not believe the finding is a FP, the CSP
must set this entry to “No.”
AO-approved false positives can also be closed; see Section 2.2 for guidance on closing
a POA&M item.
Column W – Operational
Requirement
State the status of the deviation request for an operational requirement (OR). An OR
means that there is a weakness in the system that will remain an open vulnerability
that cannot be corrected without impacting the full operation of the system. An OR is
also an open vulnerability that could be exploited, regardless of the limited opportunity
for exploitation, such as a component that is installed but not enabled. A CSP
determination of an operational requirement will cause this column to be set to
“pending.” The deviation is finalized, setting the status to “yes”, if it is approved by the
AO.
Approved operational requirements must remain on the Open POA&M Items
worksheet, and must be periodically reassessed by the CSP.
Column X – Deviation
Rationale
Provide a rationale for any deviation request submitted to the AO. For operational
requirements and risk adjustments, include mitigating factors and compensating
controls that address the specific risk to the system. For false positives, include
information about evidence/artifacts that support the result.
Column Y – Supporting
Documents
List any additional documents that are associated with the POA&M item.
Column Z – Comments
Provide any additional comments that have not been provided in any of the other
columns.
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2.2. WORKSHEET 2: CLOSED POA&M ITEMS
The top of the Closed POA&M Items worksheet contains the system information as the top of the Open
POA&M Items worksheet. The remainder of the worksheet contains the POA&M items that are
completed. The details should reflect almost all of the information provided in the Open POA&M Items
worksheet; however, the CSP must update Column O – Status Date, with the date of completion.
To “close” a POA&M item, update the date in Column O – Status Date, and move the POA&M item to
Worksheet 2, Closed POA&M Items.
A POA&M item can be moved to the Closed POA&M Items worksheet when either of the following
occurs:
All corrective actions have been applied and evidence of mitigation is collected by the CSP
available for inspection. Evidence of mitigation must then be verified by a 3PAO during initial
and periodic assessments, and may be requested by the AO at any time.
A false positive deviation request was approved by the AO.
2.3. INTEGRATED INVENTORY WORKBOOK
The CSP must continuously maintain an inventory workbook using the FedRAMP Integrated Inventory
Workbook Template, available separately on the FedRAMP website Templates page. In accordance with
the FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring Strategy & Guide, the CSP must submit their up-to-date inventory
workbook each month with their POA&M and other continuous monitoring deliverables.
The CSP may insert their inventory workbook as an additional worksheet in the POA&M, or retain it as a
separate document. If retained separately, the inventory workbook and POA&M must be submitted
together and placed in the same OMB MAX container each month. Please see the Integrated Inventory
Workbook Template for instructions on completing and updating the inventory of system assets.
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3. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
The CSP must include the following in the Open POA&M Items worksheet:
All security vulnerabilities identified through vulnerability scanning tools, where the CSP is late
remediating the vulnerability
1
;
All known security vulnerabilities and deficiencies identified through means other than
vulnerability scanning tools (e.g., interviews and penetration testing); and
All security vulnerabilities for which the CSP is submitting a Deviation Request.
A security vulnerability remediation is late if it is not remediated within the time requirements detailed
in the FedRAMP Continuous Monitoring Strategy & Guide, and summarized in the bullets below.
The CSP must comply with the following:
Use the FedRAMP POA&M Template to track and manage POA&M items.
If a finding is identified in the SAR, or as a result of continuous monitoring activities, it must be
included as an item on the POA&M.
All POA&M entries must map back to a finding in the SAR and/or continuous monitoring
activities.
False positives identified in the SAR (Appendices C, D, and E), along with supporting evidence
(e.g., clean scan report) do not have to be included in the POA&M.
Each finding in the POA&M must have a unique identifier. This unique identifier must pair with
a respective SAR finding and continuous monitoring activities.
All high and critical risk findings must be remediated prior to receiving a JAB P-ATO.
High and critical risk findings identified through continuous monitoring activities must be
remediated within 30 days after identification.
Moderate findings must be remediated within 90 days following the P-ATO date, or 90 days
following identification.
Low findings must be remediated within 180 days following the P-ATO date, or 180 days
following identification.
Note: The POA&M Spreadsheet has problems with data validation in the Mac version of Microsoft
Office. Disabling macros typically resolves this issue.
1
Previously, FedRAMP required the CSP to enter all scanner-identified findings into the POA&M. Now only late scanner-
identified findings are required. This only applies to findings identified by a scanning tool. All other findings must still be entered
into the POA&M, whether they are late or not. This includes deficiencies identified through assessment interviews and
penetration testing activities.
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APPENDIX A: FEDRAMP ACRONYMS
The FedRAMP Master Acronyms & Glossary contains definitions for all FedRAMP publications, and is
available on the FedRAMP website Documents page under Program Overview Documents.
(https://www.fedramp.gov/resources/documents-2016/)
Please send suggestions about corrections, additions, or deletions to info@fedramp.gov.

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