Cutting Red Tape, Securing the Mission: Why Faster ATOs Matter
Featured in PSC Contractor Magazine – Fall 2025
By Gaurav “GP” Pal, CEO and Founder, stackArmor, a Tyto Athene Company
Federal agencies and contractors dedicate millions of hours each year navigating the Risk Management Framework (RMF) and Authority to Operate (ATO) process—essential for security, but often a source of costly delay. In the latest issue of PSC Contractor Magazine, stackArmor CEO and Founder Gaurav “GP” Pal outlines a bold yet practical path forward: modernizing and accelerating the ATO process without sacrificing rigor or compliance.
Key Highlights
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The Cost of Complexity:
Each year, government and industry spend an estimated 26 million hours and $3.6 billion on RMF and ATO activities across more than 13,000 systems. Simplifying and automating these processes could save over $1.4 billion annually and free cyber talent to focus on true mission risk. -
The Problem Today:
RMF evidence lives in static Word files and spreadsheets, quickly becoming outdated. Highly skilled cybersecurity professionals spend more time preparing paperwork than strengthening systems—slowing mission delivery without improving assurance. -
A Smarter Approach:
GP Pal advocates for turning artifacts into data, drawing security evidence directly from systems, pipelines, and platforms. Pairing security-as-code principles with reusable security patterns and machine-readable documentation can ensure continuous compliance and faster authorizations. -
Leadership Matters:
Government leaders can set the tone by requiring machine-readable evidence and standardizing acceptance criteria. Contracting models that reward automation and reuse can shift the focus from compliance paperwork to verified assurance. -
The Future of Compliance:
RMF and ATOs will remain essential to protecting federal systems. But with modernization, agencies can reduce friction, strengthen security, and deliver mission outcomes faster. The next era of compliance will be code-driven, automated, and continuous.
Why It Matters
Modernizing ATOs isn’t just about efficiency—it’s about returning time to mission, empowering cyber professionals, and delivering secure, resilient digital services to the public and the warfighter.
Read the full article in PSC Magazine here.
