When is risk assessment conducted within the system development lifecycle?

Risk assessment is a critical component of the system development lifecycle and is primarily conducted during the acquisition or development phase. This is because it is during this phase that potential risks are identified, analyzed, and evaluated in relation to the system being developed or acquired. Performing a risk assessment at this stage allows for the identification of vulnerabilities and threats before the system is fully operational.

By integrating risk assessment in the acquisition or development phase, organizations can implement appropriate security controls and risk mitigation strategies early on, ensuring that security considerations are built into the system from the ground up. This proactive approach helps in minimizing the potential impact of risks and enhances the overall security posture of the system when it goes live.

Conducting risk assessments later, such as in the implementation or operations/maintenance phases, is still valuable but does not allow for early mitigation of identified risks during development. Therefore, placing the risk assessment in the acquisition or development phase ensures that security is an integral part of the overall system development process.