FISMA
FISMA (Federal Information Security Management Act) is a law that requires federal agencies and their contractors to protect government information and systems. Think of it as a set of security rules and guidelines that companies must follow when working with government data. It's similar to how a bank has security procedures to protect money, but in this case, it's about protecting government information. When you see FISMA mentioned in a resume, it usually means the person has experience working on projects that met these government security requirements.
Examples in Resumes
Led FISMA compliance efforts for Department of Defense contract
Managed FISMA certification and accreditation process for federal agency systems
Implemented security controls to achieve FISMA moderate-level compliance
Typical job title: "Information Security Specialists"
Also try searching for:
Where to Find Information Security Specialists
Professional Organizations
Job Boards
- • USAJobs.gov
- • ClearanceJobs
- • GovtJobs
Professional Networks
Example Interview Questions
Senior Level Questions
Q: How have you managed FISMA compliance programs in previous roles?
Expected Answer: Look for answers that show experience leading teams through compliance processes, working with auditors, and implementing security controls across large organizations. They should mention experience with different security control levels (low, moderate, high) and interaction with federal agencies.
Q: Describe a challenging FISMA compliance issue you resolved.
Expected Answer: Strong candidates should describe specific examples of identifying security gaps, implementing solutions, and maintaining compliance. They should mention stakeholder management and documentation processes.
Mid Level Questions
Q: What are the main FISMA security control families?
Expected Answer: Candidate should be able to explain basic security control categories like access control, incident response, and risk assessment in simple terms, and how they apply to government systems.
Q: How do you document FISMA compliance?
Expected Answer: Look for understanding of security documentation requirements, ability to maintain security plans, and experience with compliance reporting.
Junior Level Questions
Q: What is FISMA and why is it important?
Expected Answer: Should demonstrate basic understanding of FISMA as a federal security requirement and its role in protecting government information.
Q: What's the difference between FISMA low, moderate, and high security levels?
Expected Answer: Should be able to explain that these levels relate to the importance of the information being protected and the different security requirements for each level.
Experience Level Indicators
Junior (0-2 years)
- Basic understanding of security controls
- Familiarity with compliance documentation
- Knowledge of government security requirements
- Basic security assessment support
Mid (2-5 years)
- Implementation of security controls
- Compliance documentation management
- Security assessment coordination
- Risk assessment participation
Senior (5+ years)
- FISMA program management
- Audit response leadership
- Security control design
- Stakeholder management
Red Flags to Watch For
- No understanding of federal security requirements
- Lack of documentation experience
- No knowledge of security controls
- Unfamiliarity with compliance processes
- No experience with government systems or contracts
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