What does operational assurance verify?

Operational assurance primarily focuses on ensuring that a system functions according to its established security requirements. This concept emphasizes the importance of not only having security controls in place but also verifying that these controls are effectively working and that the system adheres to defined security policies and procedures.

By confirming that a system operates according to its security requirements, organizations can maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of their information systems. This enables assurance that security measures are not only theoretical but practically applied, and it helps identify any gaps in security practices that could expose the system to potential risks.

While aspects such as compliance with renewal policies, effectiveness of backup plans, and addressing vulnerabilities are certainly important parts of an overall security posture, operational assurance specifically targets the alignment of system performance with security requirements, making it a foundational element of comprehensive security assessment and testing practices.