FAQs

The following are answers to frequently asked questions about the Federal Segment Architecture Methodology . Should you have any further questions, please submit them through the Contact page.

Why are there so many outputs in FSAM, and are they all required?

All FSAM outputs are optional; however FSAM includes core outputs that provide information required for the EAAF v3.0 reporting requirements. Other FSAM outputs also provide information that can be useful to other management processes (e.g., capital planning, security, etc.). For example, using the FSAM toolkit provides information that supports the preparation of C&A packages for segment systems including:

  • Identification and analysis of overall segment information security risks
  • High-level  information security categorization
  • Assessment of business processes for applicable security controls
  • Classification of information exchanges and identification of appropriate security controls
  • Identification of system certification and accreditation (C&A) security boundaries
  • Assessment of system interfaces for applicable security controls

How should agencies define their segments?

While there is no prescribed method or hard-and-fast rules for defining segments, it is generally considered good practice for agency core mission segments to be defined to align with the overall structure of the agency BRM extension. Additional segments may be defined for enterprise and business services. Please review the FEA Practice Guidance for more information (www.egov.gov).

Is reuse defined as between agencies or does it also include reuse within an agency?

Reuse can occur both across and within agencies. The FSAM suggested analytical techniques for capturing reuse include the ability to specify the agency code for the reused component. This agency code designation does not need to be limited to external agencies.

What types of milestones should be included for the segment transition?  Should this include segment completion, execution, project, and performance milestones?

Milestones should be tracked that are meaningful to assess the overall delivery upon the targeted performance improvements. This means that agencies can provide a range of milestone types, including segment completion, execution, project, and performance. In addition, agencies may establish specific milestones related to reuse. However, it is not necessary to include all milestones that may already be reported via other means (e.g. Exhibit 300).