Who typically evaluates the effectiveness of security controls during an SCAR?

In a Security Control Assessment Report (SCAR), the effectiveness of security controls is generally evaluated by the Validator. This role is tasked with conducting a thorough assessment of the security controls in place to ensure they are operating as intended and providing the necessary protection against identified threats. The Validator typically has the expertise and authority to perform the evaluation, analyzing various factors such as compliance with established standards, operational effectiveness, and overall risk management outcomes.

The other roles, while relevant to information security and risk management, do not typically perform this specific evaluation during a SCAR. For instance, the System Owner is primarily responsible for the overall security and management of the system, but they do not conduct the assessment themselves. An External Auditor may review processes and compliance but is focused more on auditing rather than directly evaluating the security controls' effectiveness in the context of the SCAR. The Risk Manager plays a critical role in identifying and mitigating risks but does not usually assess the functionality of specific security controls as part of the SCAR process. Thus, the Validator's expertise makes them pivotal for evaluating security controls during the SCAR.