Workflow Orchestrator

Workflow Orchestrator Skill

Orchestrate complex, multi-step compliance workflows that combine multiple skills for comprehensive OSCAL processing and analysis.

When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to:

• Perform end-to-end compliance assessments
• Chain multiple analysis steps together
• Automate repetitive compliance workflows
• Execute continuous monitoring checks
• Process compliance packages comprehensively

⛔ Authoritative Data Requirement

Workflows operate on user-provided documents and chain other skills together.

Required Documents Per Workflow

Inherited Requirements

Each skill invoked in a workflow inherits its own authoritative data requirements. If a workflow step needs a baseline catalog, the workflow will stop and request it.

Available Workflows

Workflow Components

Tasks

Individual steps that execute a skill:

task:
  id: parse-ssp
  name: Parse SSP Document
  skill: oscal-parser
  parameters:
    file: fedramp_ssp.json
  depends_on: []

Dependencies

Tasks can depend on other tasks:

task:
  id: extract-controls
  name: Extract Controls
  skill: controls-extractor
  depends_on:
    - parse-ssp  # Must complete first

Artifacts

Outputs passed between tasks:

artifacts:
  - name: parsed_data
    from: parse-ssp
    to: extract-controls

Validation Gates

CRITICAL: Workflows that generate OSCAL documents MUST include validation gates.

task:
  id: validate-output
  name: Validate Generated OSCAL
  skill: oscal-validator
  depends_on:
    - generate-component
  validation_checks:
    - uuid_format
    - metadata_complete
    - schema_valid
    - references_valid

Required Validation Tasks:

• After any generation task, add validation task
• Use oscal-validator for basic checks
• Use model-specific validators (e.g., oscal-ssp-validator) for detailed checks
• Fail workflow if validation fails

Example with Validation:

workflow:
  - task: generate-component-def
    skill: component-definition-builder
  
  - task: validate-component  # ← REQUIRED
    skill: oscal-validator
    parameters:
      document: output-from-generate-component-def
    stop_on_error: true
  
  - task: next-step
    skill: ...
    depends_on: [validate-component]  # Only proceeds if valid

Predefined Workflows

FedRAMP Package Review

Purpose: Comprehensive review of FedRAMP authorization package

Steps:

1. Parse Documents - Parse SSP, SAR, POA&M
2. Validate Structure - Check all documents for validity
3. Extract Controls - Get all control implementations
4. Check Completeness - Verify all baseline controls addressed
5. Assess Risks - Identify and score risks
6. Generate Report - Create review findings

Output:

FEDRAMP PACKAGE REVIEW
======================
System: [Name]
Baseline: [Moderate]
Review Date: [Date]

Document Validation:
- SSP: ✅ Valid
- SAR: ✅ Valid
- POA&M: ⚠️ 2 issues

Control Coverage:
- Required: 325
- Documented: 320 (98.5%)
- Missing: 5

Risk Summary:
- High Risks: 3
- Moderate Risks: 8
- POA&M Items: 15

Recommendation: [READY / NOT READY]

Gap Analysis Workflow

Purpose: Identify compliance gaps against a framework

Steps:

1. Parse Current State - Parse existing SSP/documentation
2. Extract Implemented Controls - Get what's implemented
3. Load Target Baseline - Get required controls
4. Compare - Find differences
5. Map to Other Frameworks - Cross-reference if needed
6. Generate Gap Report - Document findings

Output:

GAP ANALYSIS REPORT
==================
Current: NIST 800-53 Low
Target: NIST 800-53 Moderate

New Controls Required: 125
Already Implemented: 200
Estimated Effort: 480 hours

Priority Gaps:
1. SI-4 - Security Monitoring (HIGH)
2. CA-7 - Continuous Monitoring (HIGH)
3. IR-4 - Incident Handling (MEDIUM)

Continuous Monitoring Workflow

Purpose: Regular automated compliance check

Steps:

1. Parse Latest Documents - Get current state
2. Validate All Documents - Check for issues
3. Check for Changes - Compare to baseline
4. Assess New Risks - Score any changes
5. Update POA&M - Track any issues
6. Generate Status Report - Monthly report

Frequency: Daily/Weekly/Monthly

How to Execute Workflows

Step 1: Select Workflow

Choose appropriate workflow for the task.

Step 2: Gather Inputs

Collect required documents:

• OSCAL files (SSP, SAR, POA&M, etc.)
• Baseline/profile references
• Configuration parameters

Step 3: Execute Tasks

Run each task in dependency order:

1. Check dependencies are satisfied
2. Execute the skill
3. Collect outputs/artifacts
4. Pass to dependent tasks

Step 4: Handle Errors

If a task fails:

• Log the error
• Determine if workflow can continue
• Skip dependent tasks if needed
• Include in final report

Step 5: Compile Results

Aggregate outputs from all tasks into comprehensive report.

Custom Workflow Definition

Create custom workflows:

workflow:
  id: custom-review
  name: Quarterly Compliance Review
  description: Q4 compliance status assessment
  
  tasks:
    - id: parse-ssp
      skill: oscal-parser
      params:
        file: current_ssp.json
    
    - id: validate
      skill: oscal-validator
      depends_on: [parse-ssp]
    
    - id: extract
      skill: controls-extractor
      depends_on: [parse-ssp]
    
    - id: assess-risk
      skill: risk-assessor
      depends_on: [extract]
    
    - id: report
      skill: compliance-report-generator
      depends_on: [validate, extract, assess-risk]
      params:
        format: markdown
        type: executive-summary

  output:
    format: markdown
    destination: reports/q4-review.md

Workflow Status Tracking

Example Usage

When asked "Review this FedRAMP package for readiness":

1. Initialize FedRAMP Review workflow
2. Parse all provided documents (SSP, SAR, POA&M)
3. Validate each document structure
4. Extract and count controls
5. Compare against FedRAMP Moderate baseline
6. Identify gaps and risks
7. Score overall readiness
8. Generate comprehensive review report
9. Provide go/no-go recommendation