Assessor conduct is governed by the CMMC Code of Professional Conduct. Proprietary or sensitive data from the OSC environment cannot leave without express written consent from the OSC's Assessment Official (AO). The AO is the authorized point of control for assessment-related data. This protects client confidentiality and maintains ethical handling of sensitive information.
Exact Extracts:
* CMMC Assessor Code of Professional Conduct: "No proprietary or sensitive information may be removed from an OSC environment without the express written consent of the OSC's designated Assessment Official."
* "Assessors are bound to protect confidentiality and may not transmit data outside of agreed assessment channels without written authorization." Why the other options are not correct:
* A: Too absolute - proprietary data can leave if AO provides written consent.
* B: IT staff cannot authorize release of proprietary data.
* C: POC is not the authority for data release - only the Assessment Official is.
References:
CMMC Code of Professional Conduct: Confidentiality requirements.
CMMC Assessment Guide - Level 2: Ethical responsibilities of assessors.

Comprehensive and Detailed Explanation:
The CMMC Assessment Scope - Level 2 requires that ESPs providing cybersecurity services (e.g.,as SPAs) to an OSC seeking Level 2 certification must themselves hold a CMMC certification at least equal to the OSC's target level (Level 2 or higher). This ensures that the ESP's security practices do not undermine the OSC's compliance. As a CCA, you must confirm the ESP's certification status to validate the scope, as outlined in the CMMC CAP.
Option B is insufficient without verification of the ESP's certification. Option C is unnecessary unless the ESP lacks certification. Option D misapplies self-assessment, which is not a substitute for certification. A is the mandated action.
Reference:
CMMC Assessment Scope - Level 2, Section 2.3.3 (ESP Requirements), p. 6: "ESPs must have a CMMC certification equal to or greater than the OSC's target level." CMMC Assessment Process (CAP) v1.0, Section 2.2 (Scope Validation)

Comprehensive and Detailed in Depth Explanation:
The CoPC requires C3PAOs to employ only credentialed individuals for assessment tasks, and using an untrained, non-credentialed person violates Professionalism. Option A (Integrity) is related but less specific.
Option B is incorrect as CoPC sets hiring standards. Option C (Confidentiality) is unrelated. Option D is the violation.
Extract from Official Document (CoPC):
* Paragraph 2.1 - Professionalism (pg. 4):"Refrain from dishonesty by employing only credentialed individuals for CMMC assessment services." References:
CMMC Code of Professional Conduct, Paragraph 2.1.

To scope connections to external systems, the OSC must fully define all external connections - not just general statements about "small use" or "backups." Incomplete or vague descriptions are not sufficient for scoping.
Extract:
"The OSC must identify and define the extent of all external connections that support processing, storage, or transmission of CUI to determine scope." Thus, the data provided are not sufficient, because the OSC has not fully defined external connections.
Reference: CMMC Scoping Guidance - External Service Providers & External Connections.

* Applicable Requirement: CAP - Assessment Execution Phase.
* Why D is Correct: After scoring and validating preliminary results, the next step is to finalize and record recommended final findings for submission. This closes the assessment process and supports certification decisions.
Why Other Options Are Insufficient:
* A: Scope determination occurs in planning, not after validation.
* B: Results are delivered after finalization, not immediately after validation.
* C: Considering additional evidence occurs during data collection, before validation.
References (CCA Official Sources):
* CMMC Assessment Process (CAP) v1.0 - Reporting Phase
* CMMC Assessment Guide - Level 2 - Assessment Closure