AI is Transforming Continuous ATO and Compliance for Real-Time Secure Software Development

Hello, CISOs, ISSOs, System Owners, App Developers, and DevSecOps teams.

Today, we're exploring how AI transforms ATO control documentation for real-time software development visibility. Imagine compliance documentation seamlessly integrating into your daily workflow rather than being cumbersome. It may sound ambitious, but AI is turning this vision into reality.

Today, OnPoint xChange presents Eugene Goldlust, our Senior Account Executive, candidly chatting with Vijay Narasimhan, the CTO of ASSYST, about how developments in Generative AI and related technologies are transforming the cybersecurity and risk management landscape. Let’s get into it!

Eugene: Vijay, we are delighted to have you share your knowledge and insights. What’s the current landscape of modern enterprise software development?

Vijay: Thank you, Eugene. The world of enterprise software development is evolving at a breakneck pace. Agile methodologies, continuous integration, continuous delivery, DevSecOps, and Generative AI practices are becoming the norm, pushing for faster, more efficient development and deployment cycles. Yet, amidst this speed and innovation, security and compliance remain critical. Traditional ATO (Authority to Operate) processes often act as brakes on this fast-moving vehicle, causing delays and frustrations. It's like trying to finish an Indy 500 race with a slow moving tractor in the way.

Eugene: I agree, and the example was apt; given this scenario, how can AI-powered ATO control documentation change the game?

Vijay: Imagine if you had a personal assistant who never sleeps, over time, knows how you react to a problem, and addresses it with a solution on your behalf, continuously ensuring your software meets all security and compliance standards. AI can do just that. Automated tools can perform continuous compliance checks, scanning infrastructure configurations, code repositories, and deployment environments to ensure they adhere to security policies and standards. The challenge is that the data these tools produce can be enormous and difficult, if not impossible, for a human to analyze and see the abnormalities. This is where AI is beneficial; magically, the slow-moving tractor is out of your way. If any deviations occur, with appropriate training, the AI framework can trigger alerts for immediate remediation and sometimes provide appropriate solutions to these tools. This isn’t just a minor tweak; it’s a fundamental shift that turns a labor-intensive process into a seamless, real-time operation. Think of it as having a superhero sidekick who's always got your back.

Eugene: As we know, Cloud and DevSecOps have significantly grown over the past decade. What are the tangible benefits of having this real-time visibility with AI in software development and deployment?

Vijay: Absolutely, it is transformative. Here’s why: Immediate feedback means developers can address compliance and security issues on the spot rather than discovering them later in the process by a security professional, compliance team, or worse, by an Assessing Officer (AO). Real-time updates create a unified view for development, operations, and security teams, fostering better teamwork. Continuous monitoring means we catch vulnerabilities early, significantly lowering the risk of breaches. Automation frees up human resources to focus on innovation rather than look for a needle in the haystack. Everyone from the development team to senior stakeholders can see what’s happening at any moment, which enhances trust and accountability.

Eugene: Let’s delve into one of your focus areas, ASSYST's ComplySync AI, and the real benefits of this solution.

Vijay: At ASSYST, our journey to develop ComplySync AI started with a simple yet profound question: How can we turn the tedious, error-prone process of compliance documentation into a seamless, integrated part of the software development lifecycle? Drawing on years of experience in software development and decades of managing enterprise cybersecurity programs, compliance, and AI, we created a solution that not only meets but exceeds industry standards.

Yes, we have been applying automation and AI to Cyber Risk and compliance over the past few years. Software security has been the focus area for most of our customers, and they all have already invested in governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) tools. ComplySync AI does not render such investments go to waste; rather, it attempts to alleviate the current pain points of system security professionals by providing details on control implementation insights. It utilizes AI and machine learning to analyze control definitions and implementation details to verify compliance, ensuring that security controls are seamlessly integrated into the CI/CD pipeline. ComplySync AI automatically validates controls against the latest RMF and NIST 800-53 Rev.5 standards. Security professionals know not all Security Technical Implementation Guides (STIGs) are automated, and the beauty of ComplySync AI is to employ Manual Finding to ensure the implementation matches the intention of the STIG. It applies to any system, whether on-premise or in the cloud, and is available as an on-premise implementation or SaaS. The solution smartly filters applicable control responses, making compliance management more efficient. It provides insights and analytics on control families to ensure continuous authorization and monitoring. Interfaces with existing GRC implementations and integrates security scanning results. Supports NIST’s Open Security Controls Assessment Language (OSCAL) for improved interoperability. Locally analyzes and stores data, ensuring traffic never leaves the customer’s network, and maintains data provenance, audit history, and traceability.

Eugene: You mentioned real-time alerts and continuous monitoring. Can you give a more detailed picture of how this works?

Vijay: Picture this: With every piece of code and every configuration change, an AI-powered sentinel watches every deployment. This sentinel not only watches but understands the compliance landscape. It logs all activities, monitors security metrics, and keeps detailed audit trails. When it spots something off, it doesn’t just alert you—it provides a roadmap for remediation. It’s like having a security expert on duty 24/7, ensuring your development pipeline is always in check. It's as if Batman is overseeing your compliance—minus the Batmobile.

Eugene: Interesting. How important is documentation in this context, especially for ISSOs, auditors, and AppDev Teams?

Vijay: Documentation is the linchpin of compliance. It’s what auditors scrutinize, and stakeholders rely on for assurance. AI takes documentation to the next level by maintaining comprehensive records of security controls, audit findings, remediation actions, and compliance status throughout the software development lifecycle. Automated reporting tools can generate these documents on-demand or at scheduled intervals, providing a crystal-clear picture of compliance at any point in time. With AI, you won't just meet the standards set by the NIST Risk Management Framework (RMF); you'll set new ones. Imagine a situation where you were compliant once with appropriate control implementation and associated documentation, but fast forward a few months; that implementation may not be valid anymore. Without ComplySync AI, you must read every line of documentation to make sense.

Eugene: That was very well said, Vijay. What steps can enterprises take to implement AI-powered ATO control documentation effectively?

Vijay: It starts with a shift in mindset. Organizations and government agencies need to recognize the power and potential of AI in transforming compliance from a bottleneck into a streamlined, integrated part of their DevSecOps process. They should evaluate their current processes, choose an AI solution that fits their needs, train their teams to leverage these new tools, and continuously monitor and optimize the system for the best results. It’s like upgrading from a horse-drawn carriage to a self-driving car—once you experience the change, there’s no going back.

Eugene: Excellent. Let’s wrap up with a forward-looking perspective. Where do you see this technology taking us in the next five years?

Vijay: In the next few years, I envision a landscape where compliance is not just a requirement but a competitive advantage for all forms of government agencies and organizations across various sectors. With continuous ATO, organizations can move faster and innovate more freely, knowing that their AI-powered systems and agents constantly ensure security and compliance. This will lead to a more secure, efficient, and dynamic software development ecosystem. Imagine a future where 'compliance' isn’t a hurdle but a hallmark of excellence. That's the future AI can help us build.

https://assyst.net/ComplySyncAI