ATO and FedRAMP for AI systems
Check the whole system’s authorization boundary.
Reviewed: 2026-10-03
Source-based teaching example · Fictional data
Narration: Microsoft Mark · locally synthesized

00:00:00.000 — What you will learn

Check the whole system’s authorization boundary.

Visual description:
Check the whole system’s authorization boundary.

00:00:05.667 — The idea

List every service and data flow in the proposed system. Evidence for one cloud service does not automatically cover another service or your application. Approval belongs to the responsible authority.

Visual description:
List every service and data flow in the proposed system. Evidence for one cloud service does not automatically cover another service or your application. Approval belongs to the responsible authority.

00:00:20.917 — One useful term

ATO. Authority to Operate: an authorization decision for a defined system and scope.

Visual description:
Authority to Operate: an authorization decision for a defined system and scope.

00:00:29.958 — A worked example

Harbor Notes uses infrastructure, a separate model API and separate logging. The infrastructure’s listing cannot authorize the other services or the whole app. The operational data and agency decision remain unresolved.

Visual description:
Harbor Notes uses infrastructure, a separate model API and separate logging. The infrastructure’s listing cannot authorize the other services or the whole app. The operational data and agency decision remain unresolved.

00:00:47.000 — Your turn to think

Does an infrastructure listing approve all connected services? Pause and decide before continuing.

Visual description:
Does an infrastructure listing approve all connected services?
Pause the video if you need more time.

00:01:04.292 — Why this answer works

No. Review each exact service, configuration and data requirement. Passing a classroom mock does not issue authorization.

Visual description:
No. Review each exact service, configuration and data requirement. Passing a classroom mock does not issue authorization.

00:01:16.417 — Check 1

Include every service and flow.

Visual description:
Include every service and flow.

00:01:21.375 — Check 2

Check the exact offered service and configuration.

Visual description:
Check the exact offered service and configuration.

00:01:27.417 — Check 3

Leave unresolved approval questions visible.

Visual description:
Leave unresolved approval questions visible.

00:01:33.000 — Now try a different case

Open the lesson and try its different practice case. Use every check in the full task. Watching alone does not mark the lesson complete.

Visual description:
Open the lesson
Try the new case
Check and revise
The full task and its requirements are in the linked lesson.