Security
ATO
Authority to Operate
In plain English
Formal sign-off that a system may run in production, given by whoever accepts the risk of it doing so.
Where you’ll see it
The gate at the end of security assessment. No ATO, no launch.
Example
“We are waiting on the ATO.”
The build is done and someone senior has not yet accepted the risk of turning it on.
Translate this sentence →Related acronyms
Was this explanation helpful?
Important
GC Simplified is an independent tool, not affiliated with or endorsed by the Government of Canada, and it does not provide official advice. Plain language is an interpretation, and interpretations can be wrong. Always verify against the source and your organization’s own guidance before acting.