Which is a typical information assurance role of a P3O?

A key function of a P3O is to provide assurance, which includes ensuring that projects and programmes comply with corporate standards and governance. Information assurance is a critical aspect of this. The P3O ensures that non-functional requirements, such as data security, are identified, assessed, and integrated into the project's scope and plans from the very beginning (i.e., during initiation). This proactive approach helps mitigate risks related to information security and ensures alignment with organizational policies, which is a core P3O assurance responsibility.

A. Escalating issues to senior management: This is a general P3O function for any significant risk or issue, not a role specific to information assurance.
B. Providing capacity planning for the portfolio: This is a resource management function within a P3O, focused on balancing resource supply and demand, not information assurance.
D. Booking for operational staff: This is an administrative or resource management task, which is unrelated to the strategic function of information assurance. ---

1. AXELOS. (2013). Portfolio

Programme and Project Offices (P3O). The Stationery Office.

Section 3.4.2

Table 3.2 'P3O services': This table lists "Assurance" as a key P3O service. A specific activity under this service is "Ensuring that any corporate strategies (e.g. for information security

quality

health and safety) are reflected in the programme/project." This directly supports the P3O's role in ensuring security is assessed at the start.

Section 4.4.3 'Assurance': This section details the P3O's role in providing independent scrutiny and challenge. It states

"The P3O may be responsible for ensuring that appropriate assurance roles are appointed to a programme or project and that assurance activities are embedded in the programme/project lifecycle." This reinforces the concept of embedding security assessments from the beginning.