This process is used to determine if the security controls in the information system continue to be effective over time in light of the inevitable changes that occur in the system as well as the…

Continuous monitoring is an ongoing process designed to keep security controls effective by regularly assessing them for changes in the system or operating environment. This ensures that the security posture remains acceptable between formal authorization decisions.

Configuration management focuses on maintaining the consistency of a system's configuration, not specifically the ongoing effectiveness of security controls in response to broader changes.

Vulnerability assessment is a point-in-time activity to identify security weaknesses, not a continuous process to determine overall control effectiveness over time.

Certification and accreditation (now often referred to as authorization) are discrete events that grant official approval for a system to operate, not an ongoing process of monitoring effectiveness.