NASA STD- Software Assurance Standard

4. Software Assurance Overview

This section provides overview information about software assurance and its related disciplines as they apply within NASA and to its contractors. This section does not contain requirements.

NASA performs high-risk functions in the process of achieving its goals and objectives. The Program/Project Manager plans the best risk mitigation strategy for the entire project, of which software is a part. Software assurance is an umbrella risk mitigation strategy for safety and mission assurance of all of NASA's software.

The purpose of software assurance is to assure that software products are of high quality and operate safely. These include products delivered to and used within NASA, and products developed and acquired by NASA. Software assurance assist in risk mitigation by minimizing defects and preventing problems and, through its activities enables improvement of future products and services. Software assurances is performed by various personnel at each Center in accordance with the organizational structure and governing documents for each program/project. All unresolved software assurance and risk issues are elevated to the level necessary for the resolution. Software assurance is performed by both acquirer and provider organizations.