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Security Guidelines
This handbook is designed to introduce you to some of the basic
security principles and procedures with which all NSA employees must
comply. It highlights some of your security responsibilities, and
provides guidelines for answering questions you may be asked
concerning your association with this Agency. Although you will be
busy during the forthcoming weeks learning your job, meeting
co-workers, and becoming accustomed to a new work environment, you
are urged to become familiar with the security information contained
in this handbook. Please note that a listing of telephone numbers is
provided at the end of this handbook should you have any questions or
concerns.
Introduction
In joining NSA you have been given an opportunity to participate in
the activities of one of the most important intelligence
organizations of the United States Government. At the same time, you
have also assumed a trust which carries with it a most important
individual responsibility--the safeguarding of sensitive information
vital to the security of our nation.
While it is impossible to estimate in actual dollars and cents the
value of the work being conducted by this Agency, the information to
which you will have access at NSA is without question critically
important to the defense of the United States. Since this
information may be useful only if it is kept secret, it requires a
very special measure of protection. The specific nature of this
protection is set forth in various Agency security regulations and
directives. The total NSA Security Program, however, extends beyond
these regulations. It is based upon the concept that security begins
as a state of mind. The program is designed to develop an
appreciation of the need to protect information vital to the national
defense, and to foster the development of a level of awareness which
will make security more than routine compliance with regulations.
At times, security practices and procedures cause personal
inconvenience. They take time and effort and on occasion may make it
necessary for you to voluntarily forego some of your usual personal
perogatives. But your compensation for the inconvenience is the
knowledge that the work you are accomplishing at NSA, within a
framework of sound security practices, contributes significantly to
the defense and continued security of the United States of America.
I extend to you my very best wishes as you enter upon your chosen
career or assignment with NSA.
Philip T. Pease
Director of Security
INITIAL SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES
Anonymity
Perhaps one of the first security practices with which new NSA
personnel should become acquainted is the practice of anonymity. In
an open society such as ours, this practice is necessary because
information which is generally available to the public is available
also to hostile intelligence. Therefore, the Agency mission is best
accomplished apart from public attention. Basically, anonymity means
that NSA personnel are encouraged not to draw attention to themselves
nor to their association with this Agency. NSA personnel are also
cautioned neither to confirm nor deny any specific questions about
NSA activities directed to them by individuals not affiliated with
the Agency.
The ramifications of the practice of anonymity are rather far
reaching, and its success depends on the cooperation of all Agency
personnel. Described below you will find some examples of situations
that you may encounter concerning your employment and how you should
cope with them. Beyond the situations cited, your judgement and
discretion will become the deciding factors in how you respond to
questions about your employment.
Answering Questions About Your Employment
Certainly, you may tell your family and friends that you are employed
at or assigned to the National Security Agency. There is no valid
reason to deny them this information. However, you may not disclose
to them any information concerning specific aspects of the Agency's
mission, activities, and organization. You should also ask them not
to publicize your association with NSA.
Should strangers or casual acquaintances question you about your
place of employment, an appropriate reply would be that you work for
the Department of Defense. If questioned further as to where you are
employed within the Department of Defense, you may reply, "NSA."
When you inform someone that you work for NSA (or the Department of
Defense) you may expect that the next question will be, "What do you
do?" It is a good idea to anticipate this question and to formulate
an appropriate answer. Do not act mysteriously about your
employment, as that would only succeed in drawing more attention to
yourself.
If you are employed as a secretary, engineer, computer scientist, or
in a clerical, administrative, technical, or other capacity
identifiable by a general title which in no way indicates how your
talents are being applied to the mission of the Agency, it is
suggested that you state this general title. If you are employed as
a linguist, you may say that you are a linguist, if necessary.
However, you should not indicate the specific language(s) with which
you are involved.
The use of service specialty titles which tend to suggest or reveal
the nature of the Agency's mission or specific aspects of their
work. These professional titles, such as cryptanalyst, signals
collection officer, and intelligence research analyst, if given
verbatim to an outsider, would likely generate further questions
which may touch upon the classified aspects of your work. Therefore,
in conversation with outsiders, it is suggested that such job titles
be generalized. For example, you might indicate that you are a
"research analyst." You may not, however, discuss the specific
nature of your analytic work.
Answering Questions About Your Agency Training
During your career or assignment at NSA, there is a good chance that
you will receive some type of job-related training. In many
instances the nature of the training is not classified. However, in
some situations the specialized training you receive will relate
directly to sensitive Agency functions. In such cases, the nature of
this training may not be discussed with persons outside of this
Agency.
If your training at the Agency includes language training, your
explanation for the source of your linguistic knowledge should be
that you obtained it while working for the Department of Defense.
You Should not draw undue attention to your language abilities, and
you may not discuss how you apply your language skill at the Agency.
If you are considering part-time employment which requires the use of
language or technical skills similar to those required for the
performance of your NSA assigned duties, you must report (in advance)
the anticipated part-time work through your Staff Security Officer
(SSO) to the Office of Security's Clearance Division (M55).
Verifying Your Employment
On occasion, personnel must provide information concerning their
employment to credit institutions in connection with various types of
applications for credit. In such situations you may state, if you are
a civilian employee, that you are employed by NSA and indicate your
pay grade or salary. Once again, generalize your job title. If any
further information is desired by persons or firms with whom you may
be dealing, instruct them to request such information by
correspondence addressed to: Director of Civilian Personnel,
National Security Agency, Fort George G. Meade, Maryland 20755-6000.
Military personnel should use their support group designator and
address when indicating their current assignment.
If you contemplate leaving NSA for employment elsewhere, you may be
required to submit a resume/job application, or to participate in
extensive employment interviews. In such circumstances, you should
have your resume reviewed by the Classification Advisory Officer (CAO)
assigned to your organization. Your CAO will ensure that any classified
operational details of your duties have been excluded and will provide
you with an unclassified job description. Should you leave the
Agency before preparing such a resume, you may develop one and send it
by registered mail to the NSA/CSS Information Policy Division (Q43) for
review. Remember, your obligation to protect sensitive Agency
information extends beyond your employment at NSA.
The Agency And Public News Media
From time to time you may find that the agency is the topic of
reports or articles appearing in public news media--newspapers,
magazines, books, radio and TV. The NSA/CSS Information Policy
Division (Q43) represents the Agency in matters involving the press
and other media. This office serves at the Agency's official media
center and is the Director's liaison office for public relations,
both in the community and with other government agencies. The
Information Policy Division must approve the release of all
information for and about NSA, its mission, activities, and
personnel. In order to protect the aspects of Agency operations, NSA
personnel must refrain from either confirming or denying any
information concerning the Agency or its activities which may appear
in the public media. If you are asked about the activities of NSA,
the best response is "no comment." You should the notify Q43 of the
attempted inquiry. For the most part, public references to NSA are
based upon educated guesses. The Agency does not normally make a
practice of issuing public statements about its activities.
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Espionage And Terrorism
During your security indoctrination and throughout your NSA career
you will become increasingly aware of the espionage and terrorist
threat to the United States. Your vigilance is the best single
defense in protecting NSA information, operations, facilities and
people. Any information that comes to your attention that suggests
to you the existence of, or potential for, espionage or terrorism
against the U.S. or its allies must be promptly reported by you to
the Office of Security.
There should be no doubt in your mind about the reality of the
threats. You are now affiliated with the most sensitive agency in
government and are expected to exercise vigilance and common sense to
protect NSA against these threats.
Classification
Originators of correspondence, communications, equipment, or
documents within the Agency are responsible for ensuring that the
proper classification, downgrading information and, when appropriate,
proper caveat notations are assigned to such material. (This
includes any handwritten notes which contain classified information).
The three levels of classification are Confidential, Secret and Top
Secret. The NSA Classification Manual should be used as guidance in
determining proper classification. If after review of this document
you need assistance, contact the Classification Advisory Officer
(CAO) assigned to your organization, or the Information Policy
Division (Q43).
Need-To-Know
Classified information is disseminated only on a strict
"need-to-know" basis. The "need-to-know" policy means that classified
information will be disseminated only to those individuals who, in
addition to possessing a proper clearance, have a requirement to know
this information in order to perform their official duties
(need-to-know). No person is entitled to classified information
solely by virtue of office, position, rank, or security clearance.
All NSA personnel have the responsibility to assert the
"need-to-know" policy as part of their responsibility to protect
sensitive information. Determination of "need-to-know" is a
supervisory responsibility. This means that if there is any doubt in
your mind as to an individual's "need-to-know," you should always
check with your supervisor before releasing any classified material
under your control.
For Official Use Only
Separate from classified information is information or material
marked "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" (such as this handbook). This
designation is used to identify that official information or material
which, although unclassified, is exempt from the requirement for
public disclosure of information concerning government activities
and which, for a significant reason, should not be given general
circulation. Each holder of "FOR OFFICAL USE ONLY" (FOUO) information
or material is authorized to disclose such information or material to
persons in other departments or agencies of the Executive and Judicial
branches when it is determined that the information or material is
required to carry our a government function. The recipient must be
advised that the information or material is not to be disclosed to the
general public. Material which bears the "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" caveat
does not come under the regulations governing the protection of
classified information. The unauthorized disclosure of information
marked "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" does not constitute an unauthorized
disclosure of classified defense information. However, Department of
Defense and NSA regulations prohibit the unauthorized disclosure of
information designated "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY." Appropriate
administrative action will be taken to determine responsibility and to
apply corrective and/or disciplinary measures in cases of unauthorized
disclosure of information which bears the "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY"
caveat. Reasonable care must be exercised in limiting the
dissemination of "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" information. While you may
take this handbook home for further study, remember that is does
contain "FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY" information which should be
protected.
Prepublication Review
All NSA personnel (employees, military assignees, and contractors)
must submit for review any planned articles, books, speeches,
resumes, or public statements that may contain classified,
classifiable, NSA-derived, or unclassified protected information,
e.g., information relating to the organization, mission, functions,
or activities of NSA. Your obligation to protect this sensitive
information is a lifetime one. Even when you resign, retire, or
otherwise end your affiliation with NSA, you must submit this type of
material for prepublication review. For additional details, contact
the Information Policy Division (Q43) for an explanation of
prepublication review procedures.
Personnel Security Responsibilities
Perhaps you an recall your initial impression upon entering an NSA
facility. Like most people, you probably noticed the elaborate
physical security safeguards--fences, concrete barriers, Security
Protective Officers, identification badges, etc. While these
measures provide a substantial degree of protection for the
information housed within our buildings, they represent only a
portion of the overall Agency security program. In fact, vast
amounts of information leave our facilities daily in the minds of NSA
personnel, and this is where our greatest vulnerability lies.
Experience has indicated that because of the vital information we
work with at NSA, Agency personnel may become potential targets for
hostile intelligence efforts. Special safeguards are therefore
necessary to protect our personnel.
Accordingly, the Agency has an extensive personnel security program
which establishes internal policies and guidelines governing employee
conduct and activities. These policies cover a variety of topics,
all of which are designed to protect both you and the sensitive
information you will gain through your work at NSA.
Association With Foreign Nationals
As a member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and by virtue of your
access to sensitive information, you are a potential target for
hostile intelligence activities carried out by or on behalf of
citizens of foreign countries. A policy concerning association with
foreign nationals has been established by the Agency to minimize the
likelihood that its personnel might become subject to undue influence
or duress or targets of hostile activities through foreign
relationships.
As an NSA affiliate, you are prohibited from initiating or
maintaining associations (regardless of the nature and degree) with
citizens or officials of communist-controlled, or other countries
which pose a significant threat to the security of the United States
and its interests. A comprehensive list of these designated
countries is available from your Staff Security Officer or the
Security Awareness Division. Any contact with citizens of these
countries, no matter how brief or seemingly innocuous, must be
reported as soon as possible to your Staff Security Officer (SSO).
(Individuals designated as Staff Security Officers are assigned to
every organization; a listing of Staff Security Officers can be found
at the back of this handbook).
Additionally, close and continuing associations with any non-U.S.
citizens which are characterized by ties of kinship, obligation, or
affection are prohibited. A waiver to this policy may be granted only
under the most exceptional circumstances when there is a truly
compelling need for an individual's services or skills and the
security risk is negligible.
In particular, a waiver must be granted in advance of a marriage to
or cohabitation with a foreign national in order to retain one's
access to NSA information. Accordingly, any intent to cohabitate
with or marry a non-U.S. citizen must be reported immediately to your
Staff Security Officer. If a waiver is granted, future reassignments
both at headquarters and overseas may be affected.
The marriage or intended marriage of an immediate family member
(parents, siblings, children) to a foreign national must also be
reported through your SSO to the Clearance Division (M55).
Casual social associations with foreign nationals (other than those
of the designated countries mentioned above) which arise from normal
living and working arrangements in the community usually do not have
to be reported. During the course of these casual social
associations, you are encouraged to extend the usual social
amenities. Do not act mysteriously or draw attention to yourself
(and possibly to NSA) by displaying an unusually wary attitude.
Naturally, your affiliation with the Agency and the nature of your
work should not be discussed. Again, you should be careful not to
allow these associations to become close and continuing to the extent
that they are characterized by ties of kinship, obligation, or
affection.
If at any time you feel that a "casual" association is in any way
suspicious, you should report this to your Staff Security Officer
immediately. Whenever any doubt exists as to whether or not a
situation should be reported or made a matter of record, you should
decided in favor of reporting it. In this way, the situation can be
evaluated on its own merits, and you can be advised as to your future
course of action.
Correspondence With Foreign Nationals
NSA personnel are discouraged from initiating correspondence with
individuals who are citizens of foreign countries. Correspondence
with citizens of communist-controlled or other designated countries
is prohibited. Casual social correspondence, including the "penpal"
variety, with other foreign acquaintances is acceptable and need not
be reported. If, however, this correspondence should escalate in its
frequency or nature, you should report that through your Staff
Security Officer to the Clearance Division (M55).
Embassy Visits
Since a significant percentage of all espionage activity is known to
be conducted through foreign embassies, consulates, etc., Agency
policy discourages visits to embassies, consulates or other official
establishments of a foreign government. Each case, however, must be
judged on the circumstances involved. Therefore, if you plan to
visit a foreign embassy for any reason (even to obtain a visa), you
must consult with, and obtain the prior approval of, your immediate
supervisor and the Security Awareness Division (M56).
Amateur Radio Activities
Amateur radio (ham radio) activities are known to be exploited by
hostile intelligence services to identify individuals with access to
classified information; therefore, all licensed operators are expected
to be familiar with NSA/CSS Regulation 100-1, "Operation of Amateur
Radio Stations" (23 October 1986). The specific limitations on contacts
with operators from communist and designated countries are of
particular importance. If you are an amateur radio operator you
should advise the Security Awareness Division (M56) of your amateur
radio activities so that detailed guidance may be furnished to you.
Unofficial Foreign Travel
In order to further protect sensitive information from possible
compromise resulting from terrorism, coercion, interrogation or
capture of Agency personnel by hostile nations and/or terrorist
groups, the Agency has established certain policies and procedures
concerning unofficial foreign travel.
All Agency personnel (civilian employees, military assignees, and
contractors) who are planning unofficial foreign travel must have
that travel approved by submitting a proposed itinerary to the
Security Awareness Division (M56) at least 30 working days prior to
their planned departure from the United States. Your itinerary should
be submitted on Form K2579 (Unofficial Foreign Travel Request). This
form provides space for noting the countries to be visited, mode of
travel, and dates of departure and return. Your immediate supervisor
must sign this form to indicate whether or not your proposed travel
poses a risk to the sensitive information, activities, or projects of
which you may have knowledge due to your current assignment.
After your supervisor's assessment is made, this form should be
forwarded to the Security Awareness Director (M56). Your itinerary
will then be reviewed in light of the existing situation in the
country or countries to be visited, and a decision for approval or
disapproval will be based on this assessment. The purpose of this
policy is to limit the risk of travel to areas of the world where a
threat may exist to you and to your knowledge of classified Agency
activities.
In this context, travel to communist-controlled and other hazardous
activity areas is prohibited. A listing of these hazardous activity
areas is prohibited. A listing of these hazardous activity areas can
be found in Annex A of NSA/CSS Regulation No. 30-31, "Security
Requirements for Foreign Travel" (12 June 1987). From time to time,
travel may also be prohibited to certain areas where the threat from
hostile intelligence services, terrorism, criminal activity or
insurgency poses an unacceptable risk to Agency employees and to the
sensitive information they possess. Advance travel deposits made
without prior agency approval of the proposed travel may result in
financial losses by the employee should the travel be disapproved, so
it is important to obtain approval prior to committing yourself
financially. Questions regarding which areas of the world currently
pose a threat should be directed to the Security Awareness Division
(M56).
Unofficial foreign travel to Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda, and Mexico
does not require prior approval, however, this travel must still be
reported using Form K2579. Travel to these areas may be reported
after the fact.
While you do not have to report your foreign travel once you have
ended your affiliation with the Agency, you should be aware that the
risk incurred in travelling to certain areas, from a personal safety
and/or counterintelligence standpoint, remains high. The requirement
to protect the classified information to which you have had access is
a lifetime obligation.
Membership In Organizations
Within the United States there are numerous organizations with
memberships ranging from a few to tens of thousands. While you may
certainly participate in the activities of any reputable
organization, membership in any international club or professional
organization/activity with foreign members should be reported through
your Staff Security Officer to the Clearance Division (M55). In most
cases there are no security concerns or threats to our employees or
affiliates. However, the Office of Security needs the opportunity to
research the organization and to assess any possible risk to you and
the information to which you have access.
In addition to exercising prudence in your choice of organizational
affiliations, you should endeavor to avoid participation in public
activities of a conspicuously controversial nature because such
activities could focus undesirable attention upon you and the Agency.
NSA employees may, however, participate in bona fide public affairs
such as local politics, so long as such activities do not violate the
provisions of the statutes and regulations which govern the political
activities of all federal employees. Additional information may be
obtained from your Personnel Representative.
Changes In Marital Status/Cohabitation/Names
All personnel, either employed by or assigned to NSA, must advise the
Office of Security of any changes in their marital status (either
marriage or divorce), cohabitation arrangements, or legal name
changes. Such changes should be reported by completing NSA Form
G1982 (Report of Marriage/Marital Status Change/Name Change), and
following the instructions printed on the form.
Use And Abuse Of Drugs
It is the policy of the National Security Agency to prevent and
eliminate the improper use of drugs by Agency employees and other
personnel associated with the Agency. The term "drugs" includes all
controlled drugs or substances identified and listed in the
Controlled Substances Act of 1970, as amended, which includes but is
not limited to: narcotics, depressants, stimulants, cocaine,
hallucinogens ad cannabis (marijuana, hashish, and hashish oil). The
use of illegal drugs or the abuse of prescription drugs by persons
employed by, assigned or detailed to the Agency may adversely affect
the national security; may have a serious damaging effect on the
safety and the safety of others; and may lead to criminal
prosecution. Such use of drugs either within or outside Agency
controlled facilities is prohibited.
Physical Security Policies
The physical security program at NSA provides protection for
classified material and operations and ensures that only persons
authorized access to the Agency's spaces and classified material are
permitted such access. This program is concerned not only with the
Agency's physical plant and facilities, but also with the internal
and external procedures for safeguarding the Agency's classified
material and activities. Therefore, physical security safeguards
include Security Protective Officers, fences, concrete barriers,
access control points, identification badges, safes, and the
compartmentalization of physical spaces. While any one of these
safeguards represents only a delay factor against attempts to gain
unauthorized access to NSA spaces and material, the total combination
of all these safeguards represents a formidable barrier against
physical penetration of NSA. Working together with personnel
security policies, they provide "security in depth."
The physical security program depends on interlocking procedures.
The responsibility for carrying out many of these procedures rests
with the individual. This means you, and every person employed by,
assign, or detailed to the Agency, must assume the responsibility for
protecting classified material. Included in your responsibilities
are: challenging visitors in operational areas; determining
"need-to-know;" limiting classified conversations to approved areas;
following established locking and checking procedures; properly using
the secure and non-secure telephone systems; correctly wrapping and
packaging classified data for transmittal; and placing classified
waste in burn bags.
The NSA Badge
Even before you enter an NSA facility, you have a constant reminder
of security--the NSA badge. Every person who enters an NSA
installation is required to wear an authorized badge. To enter most
NSA facilities your badge must be inserted into an Access Control
Terminal at a building entrance and you must enter your Personal
Identification Number (PIN) on the terminal keyboard. In the absence
of an Access Control Terminal, or when passing an internal
security checkpoint, the badge should be held up for viewing by a
Security Protective Officer. The badge must be displayed at all
times while the individual remains within any NSA installation.
NSA Badges must be clipped to a beaded neck chain. If necessary for
the safety of those working in the area of electrical equipment or
machinery, rubber tubing may be used to insulate the badge chain.
For those Agency personnel working in proximity to other machinery or
equipment, the clip may be used to attach the badge to the wearer's
clothing, but it must also remain attached to the chain.
After you leave an NSA installation, remove your badge from public
view, thus avoiding publicizing your NSA affiliation. Your badge
should be kept in a safe place which is convenient enough to ensure
that you will be reminded to bring it with you to work. A good rule
of thumb is to afford your badge the same protection you give your
wallet or your credit cards. DO NOT write your Personal
Identification Number on your badge.
If you plan to be away from the Agency for a period of more than 30
days, your badge should be left at the main Visitor Control Center
which services your facility.
Should you lose your badge, you must report the facts and
circumstances immediately to the Security Operations Center (SOC)
(963-3371s/688-6911b) so that your badge PIN can be deactivated in
the Access Control Terminals. In the event that you forget your
badge when reporting for duty, you may obtain a "non-retention"
Temporary Badge at the main Visitor Control Center which serves your
facility after a co-worker personally identifies your and your
clearance has been verified.
Your badge is to be used as identification only within NSA facilities
or other government installations where the NSA badge is recognized.
Your badge should never be used outside of the NSA or other
government facilities for the purpose of personal identification.
You should obtain a Department of Defense identification card from
the Civilian Welfare Fund (CWF) if you need to identify yourself as a
government employee when applying for "government discounts" offered
at various commercial establishments.
Your badge color indicates your particular affiliation with NSA and
your level of clearance. Listed below are explanations of the badge
colors you are most likely to see:
Green (*) Fully cleared NSA employees and certain
military assignees.
Orange (*) (or Gold) Fully cleared representative of
other government agencies.
Black (*) Fully cleared contractors or consultants.
Blue Employees who are cleared to the SECRET level
while awaiting completion of their processing for full (TS/SI)
clearance. These Limited Interim Clearance (LIC) employees are
restricted to certain activities while inside a secure area.
Red Clearance level is not specified, so assume
the holder is uncleared.