Tonex Certified Accrediting Official (AO) Certification
The Certified Accrediting Official (AO) program prepares senior professionals to authorize, approve, and certify SCIF and SAPF facilities for operation.
The AO is the ultimate decision authority, responsible for:
- Accepting risk
- Granting accreditation
- Ensuring facilities meet all security, technical, and compliance requirements
Learning Objectives
Participants will learn to:
- Understand the SCIF/SAPF accreditation lifecycle
- Interpret ICD 705 and SAPF standards
- Evaluate risk posture and security controls
- Approve or reject facility accreditation
- Review inspection reports and test results
- Oversee compliance documentation
- Coordinate with SSMs, CSTs, and TEMPEST authorities
- Apply risk-based decision-making frameworks
Target Audience
- Accrediting Officials (AO/DAO)
- Senior government security personnel
- Program executives
- Compliance and risk leaders
- Security architects
Course Modules
- Accreditation Authority Roles & Responsibilities
- SCIF/SAPF Accreditation Lifecycle
- Standards Interpretation (ICD 705, DoD, NISPOM)
- Risk Management & Acceptance Frameworks
- Inspection & Test Evaluation
- Technical & Physical Security Validation
- TEMPEST & EMSEC Considerations
- Cyber-Physical Security Assessment
- Accreditation Decision-Making
- Audit, Re-Accreditation & Continuous Compliance
Exam Domains & Weights
| Domain | Weight |
| Accreditation Fundamentals | 15% |
| Standards & Compliance | 20% |
| Risk Management | 20% |
| Inspection & Validation | 15% |
| Technical Security (TEMPEST/Cyber) | 15% |
| Decision-Making & Governance | 15% |
Certification Outcome
Certified AO professionals are qualified to authorize secure facilities and make risk-based accreditation decisions.