While some in the transportation industry might assume that an Authorization to Operate (ATO) is a uniquely governmental construct that mandates a formal approval process before placing an information system into production, that description overlooks the fact that every significant technology deployment is an authorization decision. As transportation systems become increasingly software-defined, interconnected, and AI-enabled, organizations can no longer rely solely on periodic compliance to support operational decisions.  By embracing authorization thinking, the industry can strengthen its operational resilience while improving the quality and defensibility of its technology decisions.

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