PM-4—Plan Of Action And Milestones Process
>Control Description
Implement a process to ensure that plans of action and milestones for the information security, privacy, and supply chain risk management programs and associated organizational systems:
Are developed and maintained;
Document the remedial information security, privacy, and supply chain risk management actions to adequately respond to risk to organizational operations and assets, individuals, other organizations, and the Nation; and
Are reported in accordance with established reporting requirements.
Review plans of action and milestones for consistency with the organizational risk management strategy and organization-wide priorities for risk response actions.
>Cross-Framework Mappings
>Relevant Technologies
Technology-specific guidance with authoritative sources and verification commands.
>Supplemental Guidance
The plan of action and milestones is a key organizational document and is subject to reporting requirements established by the Office of Management and Budget. Organizations develop plans of action and milestones with an organization-wide perspective, prioritizing risk response actions and ensuring consistency with the goals and objectives of the organization. Plan of action and milestones updates are based on findings from control assessments and continuous monitoring activities.
There can be multiple plans of action and milestones corresponding to the information system level, mission/business process level, and organizational/governance level. While plans of action and milestones are required for federal organizations, other types of organizations can help reduce risk by documenting and tracking planned remediations. Specific guidance on plans of action and milestones at the system level is provided in CA-05.
>Related Controls
>Assessment Interview Topics
Questions assessors commonly ask
Process & Governance:
- •What is the process for developing and maintaining the organization's plan of action and milestones (POA&M)?
- •How does the organization prioritize POA&M items based on risk and organizational priorities?
- •Who reviews and approves the POA&M, and what is the review frequency?
- •How are POA&M items tracked to completion, and how are delays escalated?
- •What governance exists for ensuring POA&M items are addressed in a timely manner?
Technical Implementation:
- •What systems or tools manage the POA&M across the organization?
- •How are POA&M items tracked, assigned, and monitored for completion?
- •What reporting capabilities exist for POA&M status and trends?
- •How is POA&M information integrated with risk management and assessment tools?
- •What workflows enforce POA&M review and approval processes?
Evidence & Documentation:
- •Provide the current organizational POA&M.
- •Provide evidence of POA&M review and approval process.
- •Provide records showing POA&M item prioritization based on risk.
- •Provide completion status reports for POA&M items.
- •Provide documentation of POA&M item tracking and escalation of delays.
Ask AI
Configure your API key to use AI features.