Reference & glossary
Key labels
Section titled “Key labels”| Label | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Agent | A system component that pursues goals and can use delegated capability to observe, recommend or act |
| Element | One of Identity, Behavior, Data Governance, Segmentation or Incident Response |
| Requirement | One of the 25 canonical ATF control statements |
| MUST | Required for conformance at the selected maturity level |
| SHOULD | Expected unless a justified and reviewed exception exists |
| MAY | Optional in ATF at that level; other obligations can still require it |
| Current level | Presently approved authority |
| Target level | Proposed future authority; not an approval |
| Promotion gate | Evidence checkpoint for performance, security, value, incidents or governance |
| Hold | Maintain present authority but do not promote |
| Demotion | Reduce authority because current trust conditions are not met |
| Privacy Mode | Reduced AI-assistance context without free text or direct identifiers |
Frequently asked questions
Section titled “Frequently asked questions”Is ATF an enacted law or ISO standard?
Section titled “Is ATF an enacted law or ISO standard?”No. It is an open agent-governance specification.
Is it final?
Section titled “Is it final?”The canonical repository currently describes Specification 0.9.1 as a Public Review Draft. Verify the repository before making a time-sensitive version claim.
Does completing all 25 items make an agent safe?
Section titled “Does completing all 25 items make an agent safe?”No. The assessment supports a bounded governance decision. Threat modelling, impact assessment, legal review, operational monitoring and incident readiness remain necessary.
Does a higher level mean a better agent?
Section titled “Does a higher level mean a better agent?”No. It means greater approved autonomy and therefore a higher control burden. Many agents should remain at Intern or Junior.
Can an agent skip levels?
Section titled “Can an agent skip levels?”Sequential promotion is the defensible default because each level supplies operating evidence. Avoid skipping the observation and review periods.
Can a partial result satisfy a MUST?
Section titled “Can a partial result satisfy a MUST?”No. A target-level MUST must be Fully met. Partially met and Not addressed are blockers.
Does AI Assist approve a promotion?
Section titled “Does AI Assist approve a promotion?”No. It provides saved, per-requirement advice for human review.
Canonical resources
Section titled “Canonical resources”Version statement template
Section titled “Version statement template”This assessment used ATF Specification 0.9.1 and Conformance 0.9.0, identified by the canonical project as a Public Review Draft. Results are agent-specific and do not represent certification.