Ace the 2026 DOD Controlled Unclassified Info Exam – Unleash Your CUI Superpowers!

The main idea is that the ISSO is the security lead for systems that handle CUI, making sure those systems are protected and that all safeguarding policies are followed. The ISSO oversees the implementation and ongoing operation of security controls on information systems that store, process, or transmit CUI. This includes monitoring compliance with safeguarding policies, conducting or coordinating security assessments, managing continuous monitoring, and guiding incident response and reporting. In practice, the ISSO works with system owners and other stakeholders to ensure the right safeguards are in place and maintained over time.

Policies are typically created by policy owners or leadership, not by the ISSO who enforces and implements them. Authorizing all system changes is the job of the Authorization Official or someone with official change authorization authority, not the ISSO. Auditing external vendors for CUI compliance falls under vendor risk management or independent auditing, not the day-to-day security leadership of the ISSO.