From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Security clearance
Security clearance
For use by the United Nations, see Security Clearance time for cause.[3] Because security clearances are grant-
(UN) ed by individual departments instead of one central gov-
ernment agency, clearances are inactivated at the end of
A security clearance is a status granted to individuals al- appointment or when an individual transfers out of the
lowing them access to classified information, i.e., state department. The individual concerned can then apply to
secrets, or to restricted areas after completion of a thor- reactivate and transfer the security clearance to his/her
ough background check. The term "security clearance" is new position.[1]
also sometimes used in private organizations that have
a formal process to vet employees for access to sensitive Hierarchy
information. A clearance by itself is normally not suf-
Four levels of personnel screening exist:[3]
ficient to gain access; the organization must determine
that the cleared individual needs to know the informa- Security screening
tion. No one is supposed to be granted access to classified
Individuals who need to have RS because of their job or
information solely because of rank, position, or a security
access to federal government assets will be required to
clearance.
sign the Personnel Screening, Consent and Authorization Form
(TBS/SCT 330-23e).
Canada • (RS) - formerly known as enhanced reliability status
(ERS)
Further information: Information Classification in Cana-
• Reliability checks are done by verifying personal
da
data, criminal records check, educational, and
professional qualifications, data on previous
Background employment and references. As well, a
Government classified information is governed by the fingerprint check, and a credit check may be
Treasury Board Policy on Government Security, the Secu- required.
rity of Information Act and Privacy Act. Only those that are • This level of clearance will grant the right to
deemed to be trustworthy and have been cleared are al- access designated documents with markings of
lowed to access sensitive information. Protected A, B & C information/assets on a need-
Checks include basic demographic and criminal to-know basis. It is mandatory for individuals
record checks for all levels, and, depending on an individ- when the duties or tasks of a position or contract
ual appointment’s requirements, credit checks, loyalty, necessitate access to protected information and
and field checks might be conducted by the RCMP and/or assets, regardless of the duration of an
CSIS. assignment.
Clearance is granted, depending on types of appoint-
ment, by individual Federal government departments or Security assessment/clearances
agencies or by private company security officers. Those Individuals who require access to more sensitive infor-
who have contracts with Public Works and Government mation (or access to sensitive federal government sites
Services Canada are bound by the Industrial Security Pro- and/or assets) because of their job will be required to
gram, a sub-set of the GSP. sign the Security Clearance Form (TBS/SCT 330-60e). There
To access designated information, one must have at are three basic levels of clearance:
least reliability status (see Hierarchy below). Reliability • (Level I)
checks and assessments are conditions of employment • In addition to the RS checks, foreign
under the Public Service Employment Act, and, thus, all employments, immediate relatives, and
Government of Canada employees have at least reliability marriages/common-law relationships must be
status screening completed prior to their appointment.[1] declared and be screened.
However, Government employees by Order-in-council • This level of clearance will grant the right to
are not subjected to this policy. [2] access designated and classified information up
Clearances at the reliability status, confidential, and to Confidential level on a need-to-know basis.
secret levels are valid for 10 years, whereas top secret is Department Heads have the discretion to allow
valid for 5 years. However, departments are free to re- for an individual to access Secret level
quest their employees to undergo security screening any
1
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Security clearance
information without higher level clearance on a has been granted. (This effectively prohibits granting of
case-to-case basis. a Reliability Status to any such individual.) [6]
• (Level II)
• Same as Confidential.
• This level of clearance will grant the right to
United Kingdom
access designated and classified information up Further information: UK Security clearance
to Secret level on a need-to-know basis. Clearance is checked at four levels, depending on the
Department Heads have the discretion to allow classification of materials that can be accessed —
for an individual to access Top Secret-level Counter-Terrorist Check (CTC), Baseline Check (BC), Se-
information without higher-level clearance on a curity Check (SC), and Developed Vetting (DV). Security
case-to-case basis. Check allows an individual long-term unsupervised ac-
• (Level III) cess to protectively-marked SECRET material, whilst for
• In addition to the checks at the Secret level, TOP SECRET Developed Vetting is required. All Officers
foreign travels, assets, and character references and some specialist trades within the British Armed
must be given. Field check will also be conducted Forces are cleared to SC to enable them to carry out their
prior to granting the clearance. jobs. Further to this, in the Royal Corps of Signals, all
• This level of clearance will grant the right to soldiers holding the appointment Foreman of Signals or
access all designated and classified information Yeoman of Signals, and also certain appointments with-
on a need-to-know basis. in the Intelligence Corps are DV cleared. Those with se-
curity clearance are commonly required to sign a state-
Site access
ment to the effect that they agree to abide by the restric-
An additional category called ’Site Access’ exists not for tions of the Official Secrets Act. This is popularly referred
access to information purposes but for those that require to as "signing the Official Secrets Act". Signing this has
physical access to sites or facilities designated by CSIS as no effect on which actions are legal, as the act is a law,
areas "reasonably be expected to be targeted by those not a contract, and individuals are bound by it whether
who engage in activities constituting threats to the se- or not they have signed it. Signing it is intended more as
curity of Canada". Designated areas include Government a reminder to the person that they are under such oblig-
Houses, official residences of government officials, Par- ations. To this end, it is common to sign this statement
liament, nuclear facilities, airport restricted areas, mar- both before and after a period of employment that in-
itime ports, and any large-scale events that are spon- volves access to secrets.
sored by the federal government (e.g., 2010 Winter
Olympics).[4] The checks conducted are similar to those History
of a Confidential clearance.
After the United States entry into WWII, Britain changed
its security classifications to match American classifica-
Legal
tions. Prior to the U.S.’s coming into the war, the classi-
Prior to granting access to information, an individual fications included the top classification: "Most Confiden-
who has been cleared must sign a Security Screening Certifi- tial". Documents were then shared with the U.S., when
cate and Briefing Form (TBS/SCT 330-47), indicating their they entered the war. However, these British classifica-
willingness to be bound by several Acts of Parliament tions were not understood in the U.S., and classified in-
during and after their appointment finishes. Anyone who formation appeared in the U.S. press. This spearheaded
has been given a security clearance and releases desig- the uniformity in classification between the UK and the
nated/classified information without legal authority is in U.S.
breach of trust under section 18(2) of the Security of Infor-
mation Act with a punishment up to 2 years in jail. Those
who have access to Special Operational Information are United States
held at higher standards. The release of such information
is punishable by law, under section 17(2) of the Security of Hierarchy
Information Act, liable to imprisonment for life. [5] Main article: Classified information in the United States
The Criminal Code of Canada, Section 748 (3) states A security clearance is, in general, granted to a particular
that no person convicted of an offence under Section 121 level of clearance. The exception to this is levels above
(frauds on the Government), Section 124 (selling or pur- compartmentalized access, or when an individual is giv-
chasing office), or Section 418 (selling defective stores to en access to a particular type of data. The President of
Her Majesty), has, after that conviction, the capacity to the United States may be given access to any government
contract with Her Majesty or to receive any benefits un- or military information that he or she requests if there
der a contract between Her Majesty and any other per- is a proper "need to know", even if he or she would not
son or to hold office under Her Majesty unless a pardon
2
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Security clearance
otherwise be able to normally obtain a security clearance tation needed] A TS clearance can take as few as 3–6 months
were he or she not the President. Having a security clear- to obtain, but more often takes 6–18 months, while some-
ance does not mean that you automatically have access times taking up to 3 years to obtain. The SSBI must be re-
or are given access without a proper "need to know". [7] newed every 5 years. [10] Also, in order to receive clear-
ance, all initial TS candidates must pass an oral interview.
Controlled Unclassified Information This is conducted by the investigating agent. Typically a
This is not a clearance, but rather a level at which infor- DSS or OPM employee.[citation needed]
mation distribution is controlled. Controlled Unclassified
is information that may be illegal to distribute. This in- Compartmented Information
formation is available when needed by government em- As with TS clearances, Sensitive Compartmented Infor-
ployees such as Department of Defense (DoD) employees. mation (SCI) clearances are assigned only after one has
It should not, however, be redistributed. An example of been through the rigors of a Single Scope Background In-
the type of information that may be controlled at this vestigation and a special adjudication process for evalu-
level is the operational details of a non-critical system.[ci- ating the investigation. SCI access, however, is assigned
tation needed] only in "compartments." See Compartmentalization (in-
telligence). These compartments are necessarily separat-
Confidential ed from each other with respect to organization, so an
Also known as a "public trust" clearance, this is the sim- individual with access to one compartment will not nec-
plest security clearance to get. This level typically re- essarily have access to another.[citation needed] Each com-
quires a few weeks to a few months of investigation. A partment may include its own additional special require-
Confidential clearance requires a NACLC investigation ments and clearance process. An individual may be
which dates back 7 years on the person’s record and must granted access, or read into to a compartment for an ex-
be renewed (with another investigation) every 15 years. tended or only short period of time.
Applicants are required to complete federal Standard A representative list of kinds of information that may
Form 85P ([8]) require compartmented access, without using specific
national terminology, includes:
Secret • Cryptography
A Secret clearance, also known as Collateral Secret or Or- • Overhead reconnaissance from aircraft, UAVs, or
dinary Secret, requires a few months to a year to fully satellites IMINT
investigate, depending on the individual’s background. • Communications intelligence, a subset of SIGINT
Some instances wherein individuals would take longer • Design or stockpile information about nuclear
than normal to be investigated are many past residences, weapons
having residences in foreign countries, having relatives • Nuclear targeting.
outside the United States, or significant ties with non- Such compartmentalized clearances may be expressed as
US citizens. Unpaid bills as well as criminal charges will "John has a TS/SCI", whereby all clearance descriptors
more than likely disqualify an applicant for approval. are spelled out verbally. For example, The US National
However, a Bankruptcy will be evaluated on a case-by- Security Agency used to use specialized terms such as
case basis and is not an automatic disqualifier. Poor fi- "Umbra",[11][12][13] This classification is reported to be
nancial history is the number-one cause of rejection, and a compartment within the "Special Intelligence" com-
foreign activities and criminal record are also common partment of SCI.[14] The various NSA compartments have
causes for disqualification. A Secret clearance requires a been simplified; all but the most sensitive compartments
NACLC, and a Credit investigation; it must also be re-in- are marked "CCO", meaning "handle through COMINT
vestigated every 10 years.[9] Investigative requirements channels only".
for DoD clearances, which apply to most civilian contrac- The US Department of Defense establishes, separately
tor situations, are contained in the Personnel Security from intelligence compartments, special access pro-
Program issuance known as DoD Regulation 5200-R, at grams (SAP) when vulnerability of specific information is
part C3.4.2 exceptional and the normal criteria for determining eli-
gibility for access applicable to information classified at
Top Secret the same level are not deemed sufficient to protect the
Top Secret is a more stringent clearance. A Top Secret, information from unauthorized disclosure. The number
or "TS", clearance, is often given as the result of a Single of people cleared for access to such programs is typical-
Scope Background Investigation, or SSBI. Top Secret ly kept low. Information about stealth technology, for ex-
clearances, in general, afford one access to data that af- ample, often requires such access.
fects national security, counterterrorism/counterintelli-
gence, or other highly sensitive data. There are far fewer
individuals with TS clearances than Secret clearances.[ci-
3
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Security clearance
Jobs that require a clearance Counter Intelligence (CI) and Full-Scope (Lifestyle)
polygraphs. While a positive SSBI is sufficient for
Anyone with access to classified data requires a clearance
access to SCI-level information, polygraphs are
at or higher than the level at which the data is classified.
routinely administered for "staff-like" access to
For this reason, security clearances are required for a
particular agencies.[citation needed]
wide range of jobs, from senior management to janitorial.
If issues of concern surface during any phase of security
According to a 2010 Washington Post article, 854,000
processing, coverage is expanded to resolve those issues.
Americans had top-secret clearances; almost one-third of
At lower levels, interim clearances may be issued to indi-
them worked for private companies, rather than for the
viduals who are presently under investigation, but who
US Government.[15]
have passed some preliminary, automatic process. Such
Jobs that require a security clearance can be found
automatic processes include things such as credit checks,
either as positions working directly for the Federal gov-
felony checks, and so on. An interim clearance may be
ernment or as authorized Federal contractors. Over time,
denied (although the final clearance may still be granted)
more clearance jobs are being outsourced to contrac-
for having a large amount of debt, having a foreign
tors.[16] Due to an overall shortage in security-cleared
spouse, for having admitted to seeing a doctor for a men-
candidates and a long time frame to obtain the creden-
tal health condition, or for having admitted to other
tials for an uncleared worker, those with clearance are
items of security concern (such as a criminal record or a
often paid more than their non-cleared equivalent coun-
history of drug use.)
terparts.[17][18][19] According to one 2010 estimate, "peo-
Investigations conducted by one federal agency are
ple with security clearances are in the top 10 percent of
no longer supposed to be duplicated by another federal
wage earners in the country".[15]
agency when those investigations are current within 5
years and meet the scope and standards for the level of
Requirements for a clearance clearance required.[citation needed] The high-level clearance
The vetting process for a security clearance is usually un- process can be lengthy, sometimes taking a year or more.
dertaken only when someone is hired or transferred in- The long time needed for new appointees to be cleared
to a position that requires access to classified informa- has been cited as hindering U.S. presidential transitions.
tion. The employee is typically fingerprinted and asked
to provide information about themselves. This becomes Security briefings
a starting point for an investigation into the candidate’s
In the U.S., once the clearance is granted, the candidate
suitability. The process has been streamlined and now re-
is briefed on "the proper safeguarding of classified in-
quires the person who needs clearance to input the in-
formation and on the criminal, civil, and administrative
formation online using E-qip. 14 days are allowed, during
sanctions that may be imposed on an individual who fails
which data must be input. Having the older paper form
to protect classified information from unauthorized dis-
can be helpful for collecting and organizing the informa-
closure." He or she is also required to sign an approved
tion in advance. The information on an investigation and
non-disclosure agreement (e.g., form SF-312). High level
its status is stored in either JPAS or Scattered Castles.
clearances are reviewed periodically and any "adverse
Investigative work is usually at least one of the fol-
information" reports received at any time can trigger a
lowing types:
review. When a clear person leaves their job, they are
• National Agency Check with Local Agency Check and
often "debriefed" — reminded of their ongoing obliga-
Credit Check (NACLC). An NACLC is required for a
tions to protect the information they were allowed to
Secret, L, and CONFIDENTIAL access. (See:
see.[citation needed] According to NISPOM Chapter 3, newly
Background check)
cleared employees are required to receive an initial se-
• Single Scope Background Investigation (SSBI). An
curity briefing before having access to classified infor-
SSBI is required for Top Secret, Q, and SCI access, and
mation. This training helps them understand the threat,
involves agents contacting employers, coworkers
risks to classified information, how to protect the classi-
and other individuals. Standard elements include
fied information, security procedures and duties as they
checks of employment; education; organization
apply to their job. This training is followed up by refresh-
affiliations; local agencies; where the subject has
er training that reinforces the initial security briefing.
lived, worked, or gone to school; and interviews with
persons who know the individual. The investigation
may include an NACLC on the candidate’s spouse or
Dual citizenship
cohabitant and any immediate family members who Dual citizenship is associated with two categories of secu-
are U.S. citizens other than by birth or who are not rity concerns: foreign influence and foreign preference.
U.S. citizens. Dual citizenship in itself is not the major problem in ob-
• Polygraph. Some agencies may require polygraph taining or retaining security clearance in the United
examinations. The most common examinations are States. If a security clearance applicant’s dual citizenship
4
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Security clearance
is "based solely on parents’ citizenship or birth in a for- [6] ISM Chapter 2 Part I
eign country", that can be a mitigating condition.[20] [7] http://feinstein.senate.gov/crs-intel.htm
However, exercising (taking advantage of the entitle- [8] http://www.opm.gov/Forms/pdf_fill/sf85p.pdf
ments of) a non-U.S. citizenship can cause problems. For [9] [1]
example, possession and/or use of a foreign passport is [10] (cite) url=http://www.dss.mil/disco/
a condition disqualifying from security clearance and "... indus_disco_updates.html -Defense Security
is not mitigated by reasons of personal convenience, safety, re- Service | TJ Reynia
quirements of foreign law, or the identity of the foreign coun- [11] "NSA Bibliographies". NSA Bibliographies.
try" as is explicitly clarified in a Department of Defense 2007-09-27. http://www.thememoryhole.org/nsa/
policy memorandum which defines a guideline requiring bibs.htm.
that "... any clearance be denied or revoked unless the ap- [12] "William H. Payne v. National Security Agency".
plicant surrenders the foreign passport or obtains official per- William H. Payne v. National Security Agency.
mission for its use from the appropriate agency of the United 2007-09-27. http://cryptome.org/nsa-
States Government".[21] This guideline has been followed codeword.htm.
in administrative rulings by the United States Depart- [13] "US Spying on Indian Nuclear Scientists". The NSA
ment of Defense (DoD) Defense Office of Hearings and Ap- has been spying on Indian nuclear scientists by tapping
peals (DOHA) office of Industrial Security Clearance Re- phone conversations. 2007-09-27.
view (ISCR), which decides cases involving security clear- http://www.subcontinent.com/sapra/research/
ances for Contractor personnel doing classified work for nuclear/nuclear20000619a.htm.
all DoD components. In one such case, an administrative [14] "National Security Archive Electronic Briefing
judge ruled that it is not clearly consistent with U.S. na- Book No. 24". Declassified documents and Archive
tional interest to grant a request for a security clearance publications on U.S. Intelligence. 2007-09-27.
to an applicant who was a dual national of the U.S. and http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/
Ireland.[22] NSAEBB23/index2.htm.
[15] ^ Hedgpeth, Dana (2010-08-24). "Fairs help job-
Individuals who have had security clear- seekers with security clearances connect with
ances revoked intelligence firms". The Washington Post.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
In the post World War II era there have been several
content/article/2010/08/24/
highly publicized, and often controversial, cases of of-
AR2010082406545.html?hpid=topnews.
ficials or scientists having their security clearances re-
[16] Tyler, Jeff (2006-11-17). "Private spooks for hire".
voked, including:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/2006/
• Sandy Berger
11/17/PM200611178.html. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
• John M. Deutch
[17] Associated Press (2007-03-25). "Security Clearance
• Abdel-Moniem El-Ganayni
a Valued Resume Credential". Fox News.
• Wen Ho Lee
http://www.foxnews.com/story/
• Robert Oppenheimer
0,2933,261120,00.html. Retrieved 2009-01-10.
• Alan Turing (UK)
[18] Willing, Richard (2007-02-14). "White House looks
for faster top-secret clearances". USA Today.
See also http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/
2007-02-14-top-secret-clearances_x.htm. Retrieved
• Background Check
2009-01-10.
• Compartmentalization (intelligence)
[19] Merle, Renae (2006-02-09). "Security Clearances
• L clearance
Can Pay Off". The Washington Post.
• List of U.S. security clearance terms
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/
• Q clearance
content/article/2006/02/08/
• Security Advisory Opinion
AR2006020802348.html. Retrieved 2010-05-23.
• Yankee White
[20] "Security Clearance Guidelines: Foreign
Preference". military.about.com.
References http://usmilitary.about.com/library/milinfo/
[1] ^ Personnel Security Standard security/blforeignpref.htm. Retrieved 2007-05-15.
[2] Guide to the Audit of Security - March 2004 [21] Arthur L. Money (16 August 2000). "Guidance to
[3] ^ Security Policy-Manager’s Handbook DoD Central Adjudication Facilities (CAF) Clarifying
[4] CSIS Security Screening the Application of the Foreign preference
[5] Security of Information Act Adjucitative Guideline" (pdf). http://www.dod.mil/
5
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Security clearance
dodgc/doha/policyinterpmemo.pdf. Retrieved US
2007-05-15. (the "Money Memorandum")
• (DoD) Factors Used for Determining Security
[22] ISCR Case No. 02-21102
Clearance Approval/Disapproval
• Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals decisions
External links • First person account of NSA interview and
background investigation
Canada • Security Clearance FAQs
• DoD Intelligence & Security Documents, directives
• Personnel Security Standard
and Instructions
UK • A Career in National Industrial Security Program
• DoD Security Clearances and Contracts Guidebook-
• UK MOD’s Defence Vetting Agency What You Need to Know About Your Need to Know
• Crown Prosecution Service (UK) document on
security classifications
• Security Cleared Jobs
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Security_clearance&oldid=472822545"
Categories:
• Espionage
• National security
• United States government secrecy
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