Certified Administrative Professional (CAP) 2025 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the Exam

The directive that encourages a unified information security framework for the federal government is primarily FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act). Enacted in 2002, FISMA requires federal agencies to develop, document, and implement an information security system for their data and information systems.

FISMA establishes a comprehensive framework for ensuring the effectiveness of information security controls over information resources that support federal operations and assets. It emphasizes the importance of an ongoing reassessment of security risks, the development of security policies, and the implementation of those policies through proper training and resources. This directive also mandates regular assessments to evaluate the security measures in place, which enhances the unification and coordination of information security across various federal agencies.

While other directives, like HSPD-12 and OMB Circular A-130, also address security in different contexts—such as identity management and overall information management strategies—they do not specifically provide the extensive and unified framework for information security that FISMA does. Thus, FISMA is recognized as the cornerstone of federal information security policy, ensuring that all agencies adhere to standard practices and principles in securing their information systems against threats and vulnerabilities.