The landscape of compliance documentation is undergoing a significant transformation. While traditional, monolithic methods for developing System Security Plans (SSPs) have been effective in the past, they no longer meet the needs of today’s intricate and rapidly evolving digital environment.

The emergence of OSCAL and the integration of the Component Definition Model represent a major change in compliance management, resembling the evolution in software development brought about by Object-Oriented Analysis and Design (OOAD). This shift is not merely a small enhancement; it fundamentally redefines how compliance is understood, executed, and maintained. Together, the OSCAL CDEF architecture promises a new level of automation with a machine-readable format, and streamlines the cumbersome compliance journey for security practitioners. 

stackArmor and DRTConfidence collaborated to create this whitepaper. 

Download the whitepaper to discover:

• The fundamentals of the OSCAL Component Definition (CDEF) model
• The advantages of the CDEF approach over conventional compliance strategies
• Steps to implement CDEF to NIST 800-53 security controls
• Ways for Federal Agencies to adopt and implement the component definition OSCAL model