OSCAL

Definition

OSCAL (Open Security Controls Assessment Language) is not a policy language in the traditional sense, but rather a machine-readable framework designed to standardize and automate security and compliance assessments2.

Operation

Structured Data Formats – Uses XML, JSON, and YAML to represent security controls and compliance information.

Automation & Risk Management – Helps organizations streamline security assessments and reduce manual compliance efforts.

Interoperability – Enables different tools and systems to exchange security control data efficiently.

Difference Between OSCAL & Policy Languages

Aspect	OSCAL	Traditional Policy Language
Purpose	Automates security assessments & compliance	Defines rules & regulations in natural language
Format	Machine-readable (XML, JSON, YAML)	Text-based legal or regulatory documents
Use Case	Security frameworks like FedRAMP, NIST RMF	Government laws, corporate policies
Automation	Supports automated compliance verification	Requires manual interpretation & enforcement

While OSCAL does not define policies, it translates security controls into structured formats, making compliance more efficient and scalable.