| ==Phrack Magazine== | |
| Volume Five, Issue Forty-Five, File 10 of 28 | |
| **************************************************************************** | |
| [NOTE: This file was retyped from an anonymous photocopied submission. The | |
| authenticity of it was not verified.] | |
| 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. | |
| * - Fully cleared status means that the person has been cleared to the Top | |
| Secret (TS) level and indoctrinated for Special Intelligence (SI). | |
| All badges with solid color backgrounds (permanent badges) are kept by | |
| individuals until their NSA employment or assignment ends. Striped badges | |
| ("non-retention" badges) are generally issued to visitors and are returned to | |
| the Security Protective Officer upon departure from an NSA facility. | |
| Area Control | |
| Within NSA installations there are generally two types of areas, | |
| Administrative and Secure. An Administrative Area is one in which storage of | |
| classified information is not authorized, and in which discussions of a | |
| classified nature are forbidden. This type of area would include the | |
| corridors, restrooms, cafeterias, visitor control areas, credit union, barber | |
| shop, and drugstore. Since uncleared, non-NSA personnel are often present in | |
| these areas, all Agency personnel must ensure that no classified information is | |
| discussed in an Administrative Area. | |
| Classified information being transported within Agency facilities must be | |
| placed within envelopes, folders, briefcases, etc. to ensure that its contents | |
| or classification markings are not disclosed to unauthorized persons, or that | |
| materials are not inadvertently dropped enroute. | |
| The normal operational work spaces within an NSA facility are designated Secure | |
| Areas. These areas are approved for classified discussions and for the storage | |
| of classified material. Escorts must be provided if it is necessary for | |
| uncleared personnel (repairmen, etc.) to enter Secure Areas, an all personnel | |
| within the areas must be made aware of the presence of uncleared individuals. | |
| All unknown, unescorted visitors to Secure Areas should be immediately | |
| challenged by the personnel within the area, regardless of the visitors' | |
| clearance level (as indicated by their badge color). | |
| The corridor doors of these areas must be locked with a deadbolt and all | |
| classified information in the area must be properly secured after normal | |
| working hours or whenever the area is unoccupied. When storing classified | |
| material, the most sensitive material must be stored in the most secure | |
| containers. Deadbolt keys for doors to these areas must be returned to the key | |
| desk at the end of the workday. | |
| For further information regarding Secure Areas, consult the Physical Security | |
| Division (M51) or your staff Security Officer. | |
| Items Treated As Classified | |
| For purposes of transportation, storage and destruction, there are certain | |
| types of items which must be treated as classified even though they may not | |
| contain classified information. Such items include carbon paper, vu-graphs, | |
| punched machine processing cards, punched paper tape, magnetic tape, computer | |
| floppy disks, film, and used typewriter ribbons. This special treatment is | |
| necessary since a visual examination does not readily reveal whether the items | |
| contain classified information. | |
| Prohibited Items | |
| Because of the potential security or safety hazards, certain items are | |
| prohibited under normal circumstances from being brought into or removed from | |
| any NSA installation. These items have been groped into two general classes. | |
| Class I prohibited items are those which constitute a threat to the safety and | |
| security of NSA/CSS personnel and facilities. Items in this category include: | |
| a. Firearms and ammunition | |
| b. Explosives, incendiary substances, radioactive materials, highly | |
| volatile materials, or other hazardous materials | |
| c. Contraband or other illegal substances | |
| d. Personally owned photographic or electronic equipment including | |
| microcomputers, reproduction or recording devices, televisions or | |
| radios. | |
| Prescribed electronic medical equipment is normally not prohibited, but | |
| requires coordination with the Physical Security Division (M51) prior to being | |
| brought into any NSA building. | |
| Class II prohibited items are those owned by the government or contractors | |
| which constitute a threat to physical, technical, or TEMPEST security. | |
| Approval by designated organizational officials is required before these items | |
| can be brought into or removed from NSA facilities. Examples are: | |
| a. Transmitting and receiving equipment | |
| b. Recording equipment and media | |
| c. Telephone equipment and attachments | |
| d. Computing devices and terminals | |
| e. Photographic equipment and film | |
| A more detailed listing of examples of Prohibited Items may be obtained from | |
| your Staff Security Officer or the Physical Security Division (M51). | |
| Additionally, you may realize that other seemingly innocuous items are also | |
| restricted and should not be brought into any NSA facility. Some of these | |
| items pose a technical threat; others must be treated as restricted since a | |
| visual inspection does not readily reveal whether they are classified. These | |
| items include: | |
| a. Negatives from processed film; slides; vu-graphs | |
| b. Magnetic media such as floppy disks, cassette tapes, and VCR | |
| videotapes | |
| c. Remote control devices for telephone answering machines | |
| d. Pagers | |
| Exit Inspection | |
| As you depart NSA facilities, you will note another physical security | |
| safeguard--the inspection of the materials you are carrying. This inspection | |
| of your materials, conducted by Security Protective Officers, is designed to | |
| preclude the inadvertent removal of classified material. It is limited to any | |
| articles that you are carrying out of the facility and may include letters, | |
| briefcases, newspapers, notebooks, magazines, gym bags, and other such items. | |
| Although this practice may involve some inconvenience, it is conducted in your | |
| best interest, as well as being a sound security practice. The inconvenience | |
| can be considerably reduced if you keep to a minimum the number of personal | |
| articles that you remove from the Agency. | |
| Removal Of Material From NSA Spaces | |
| The Agency maintains strict controls regarding the removal of material from its | |
| installations, particularly in the case of classified material. | |
| Only under a very limited and official circumstances classified material be | |
| removed from Agency spaces. When deemed necessary, specific authorization is | |
| required to permit an individual to hand carry classified material out of an NSA | |
| building to another Secure Area. Depending on the material and circumstances | |
| involved, there are several ways to accomplish this. | |
| A Courier Badge authorizes the wearer, for official purposes, to transport | |
| classified material, magnetic media, or Class II prohibited items between NSA | |
| facilities. These badges, which are strictly controlled, are made available by | |
| the Physical Security Division (M51) only to those offices which have specific | |
| requirements justifying their use. | |
| An Annual Security Pass may be issued to individuals whose official duties | |
| require that they transport printed classified materials, information storage | |
| media, or Class II prohibited items to secure locations within the local area. | |
| Materials carried by an individual who displays this pass are subject to spot | |
| inspection by Security Protective Officers or other personnel from the Office | |
| of Security. It is not permissible to use an Annual Security Pass for personal | |
| convenience to circumvent inspection of your personal property by perimeter | |
| Security Protective Officers. | |
| If you do not have access to a Courier Badge and you have not been issued an | |
| Annual Security Pass, you may obtain a One-Time Security Pass to remove | |
| classified materials/magnetic media or admit or remove prohibited items from an | |
| NSA installation. These passes may be obtained from designated personnel | |
| in your work element who have been given authority to issue them. The issuing | |
| official must also contact the Security Operations Center (SOC) to obtain | |
| approval for the admission or removal of a Class I prohibited item. | |
| When there is an official need to remove government property which is not | |
| magnetic media, or a prohibited or classified item, a One-Time Property Pass is | |
| used. This type of pass (which is not a Security Pass) may be obtained from | |
| your element custodial property officer. A Property Pass is also to be used | |
| when an individual is removing personal property which might be reasonably be | |
| mistaken for unclassified Government property. This pass is surrendered to the | |
| Security Protective Officer at the post where the material is being removed. | |
| Use of this pass does not preclude inspection of the item at the perimeter | |
| control point by the Security Protective Officer or Security professionals to | |
| ensure that the pass is being used correctly. | |
| External Protection Of Classified Information | |
| On those occasions when an individual must personally transport classified | |
| material between locations outside of NSA facilities, the individual who is | |
| acting as the courier must ensure that the material receives adequate | |
| protection. Protective measures must include double wrapping and packaging of | |
| classified information, keeping the material under constant control, ensuring | |
| the presence of a second appropriately cleared person when necessary, and | |
| delivering the material to authorized persons only. If you are designated as a | |
| courier outside the local area, contact the Security Awareness Division (M56) | |
| for your courier briefing. | |
| Even more basic than these procedures is the individual security responsibility | |
| to confine classified conversations to secure areas. Your home, car pool, and | |
| public places are not authorized areas to conduct classified discussions--even | |
| if everyone involved in he discussion possesses a proper clearance and | |
| "need-to-know." The possibility that a conversation could be overheard by | |
| unauthorized persons dictates the need to guard against classified discussions | |
| in non-secure areas. | |
| Classified information acquired during the course of your career or assignment | |
| to NSA may not be mentioned directly, indirectly, or by suggestion in personal | |
| diaries, records, or memoirs. | |
| Reporting Loss Or Disclosure Of Classified Information | |
| The extraordinary sensitivity of the NSA mission requires the prompt reporting | |
| of any known, suspected, or possible unauthorized disclosure of classified | |
| information, or the discovery that classified information may be lost, or is not | |
| being afforded proper protection. Any information coming to your attention | |
| concerning the loss or unauthorized disclosure of classified information should | |
| be reported immediately to your supervisor, your Staff Security Officer, or the | |
| Security Operations Center (SOC). | |
| Use Of Secure And Non-Secure Telephones | |
| Two separate telephone systems have been installed in NSA facilities for use in | |
| the conduct of official Agency business: the secure telephone system (gray | |
| telephone) and the outside, non-secure telephone system (black telephone). All | |
| NSA personnel must ensure that use of either telephone system does not | |
| jeopardize the security of classified information. | |
| The secure telephone system is authorized for discussion of classified | |
| information. Personnel receiving calls on the secure telephone may assume that | |
| the caller is authorized to use the system. However, you must ensure that the | |
| caller has a "need-to-know" the information you will be discussing. | |
| The outside telephone system is only authorized for unclassified official | |
| Agency business calls. The discussion of classified information is not | |
| permitted on this system. Do not attempt to use "double-talk" in order to | |
| discuss classified information over the non-secure telephone system. | |
| In order to guard against the inadvertent transmission of classified | |
| information over a non-secure telephone, and individual using the black | |
| telephone in an area where classified activities are being conducted must | |
| caution other personnel in the area that the non-secure telephone is in use. | |
| Likewise, you should avoid using the non-secure telephone in the vicinity of a | |
| secure telephone which is also in use. | |
| HELPFUL INFORMATION | |
| Security Resources | |
| In the fulfillment of your security responsibilities, you should be aware that | |
| there are many resources available to assist you. If you have any questions or | |
| concerns regarding security at NSA or your individual security | |
| responsibilities, your supervisor should be consulted. Additionally, Staff | |
| Security Officers are appointed to the designated Agency elements to assist | |
| these organizations in carrying out their security responsibilities. There is | |
| a Staff Security Officer assigned to each organization; their phone numbers are | |
| listed at the back of this handbook. Staff Security Officers also provide | |
| guidance to and monitor the activities of Security Coordinators and Advisors | |
| (individuals who, in addition to their operational duties within their | |
| respective elements, assist element supervisors or managers in discharging | |
| security responsibilities). | |
| Within the Office of Security, the Physical Security Division (M51) will offer | |
| you assistance in matters such as access control, security passes, clearance | |
| verification, combination locks, keys, identification badges, technical | |
| security, and the Security Protective Force. The Security Awareness Division | |
| (M56) provides security guidance and briefings regarding unofficial foreign | |
| travel, couriers, special access, TDY/PCS, and amateur radio activities. The | |
| Industrial and Field Security Division (M52) is available to provide security | |
| guidance concerning NSA contractor and field site matters. | |
| The Security Operations Center (SOC) is operated by two Security Duty Officers | |
| (SDOs), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The SDO, representing the Office of | |
| Security, provides a complete range of security services to include direct | |
| communications with fire and rescue personnel for all Agency area facilities. | |
| The SDO is available to handle any physical or personnel problems that may | |
| arise, and if necessary, can direct your to the appropriate security office | |
| that can assist you. After normal business hours, weekends, and holidays, the | |
| SOC is the focal point for all security matters for all Agency personnel and | |
| facilities (to include Agency field sites and contractors). The SOC is located | |
| in Room 2A0120, OPS 2A building and the phone numbers are 688-6911(b), | |
| 963-3371(s). | |
| However, keep in mind that you may contact any individual or any division | |
| within the Office of Security directly. Do not hesitate to report any | |
| information which may affect the security of the Agency's mission, information, | |
| facilities or personnel. | |
| Security-Related Services | |
| In addition to Office of Security resources, there are a number of | |
| professional, security-related services available for assistance in answering | |
| your questions or providing the services which you require. | |
| The Installations and Logistics Organization (L) maintains the system for the | |
| collection and destruction of classified waste, and is also responsible for the | |
| movement and scheduling of material via NSA couriers and the Defense Courier | |
| Service (DCS). Additionally, L monitors the proper addressing, marking, and | |
| packaging of classified material being transmitted outside of NSA; maintains | |
| records pertaining to receipt and transmission of controlled mail; and issues | |
| property passes for the removal of unclassified property. | |
| The NSA Office of Medical Services (M7) has a staff of physicians, clinical | |
| psychologists and an alcoholism counselor. All are well trained to help | |
| individuals help themselves in dealing with their problems. Counseling | |
| services, with referrals to private mental health professionals when | |
| appropriate, are all available to NSA personnel. Appointments can be obtained | |
| by contacting M7 directly. When an individual refers himself/herself, the | |
| information discussed in the counseling sessions is regarded as privileged | |
| medical information and is retained exclusively in M7 unless it pertains to the | |
| national security. | |
| Counselling interviews are conducted by the Office of Civilian Personnel (M3) | |
| with any civilian employee regarding both on and off-the-job problems. M3 is | |
| also available to assist all personnel with the personal problems seriously | |
| affecting themselves or members of their families. In cases of serious | |
| physical or emotional illness, injury, hospitalization, or other personal | |
| emergencies, M3 informs concerned Agency elements and maintains liaison with | |
| family members in order to provide possible assistance. Similar counselling | |
| services are available to military assignees through Military Personnel (M2). | |
| GUIDE TO SECURITY | |
| M51 PHYSICAL SECURITY 963-6651s/688-8293b (FMHQ) | |
| 968-8101s/859-6411b (FANX) | |
| CONFIRM and badges Prohibited Items | |
| (963-6611s/688-7411b) | |
| Locks, keys, safes and alarms SOC (963-3371s/688-6911b) | |
| Security/vehicle passes NSA facility protection and compliance | |
| Visitor Control | |
| Inspections | |
| Red/blue seal areas New Construction | |
| Pass Clearances (963-4780s/688-6759b) | |
| M52 INDUSTRIAL AND FIELD SECURITY | |
| 982-7918s/859-6255b | |
| Security at contractor field site facilities | |
| Verification of classified mailing addresses for contractor facilities | |
| M53 INVESTIGATIONS 982-7914s/859-6464b | |
| Personnel Interview Program (PIP) Reinvestigations | |
| Military Interview Program (MIP) Special investigations | |
| M54 COUNTERINTELLIGENCE 982-7832s/859-6424b | |
| Security counterintelligence analysis Security compromises | |
| M55 CLEARANCES 982-7900s/859-4747b | |
| Privacy Act Officer (For review of security files) Continued SCI access | |
| Contractor/applicant processing Military access | |
| M56 SECURITY AWARENESS 963-3273s/688-6535b | |
| Security indoctrinations/debriefings Embassy visits | |
| Associations with foreign nationals Briefings (foreign travel, | |
| Security Week ham radio, courier, | |
| Security posters, brochures, etc. LIC, PCS, TDY, | |
| special access, etc.) | |
| Foreign travel approval | |
| Military contractor orientation | |
| Special Access Office (963-5466s/688-6353b) | |
| M57 POLYGRAPH 982-7844s/859-6363b | |
| Polygraph interviews | |
| M509 MANAGEMENT AND POLICY STAFF 982-7885s/859-6350b | |
| STAFF SECURITY OFFICERS (SSOs) | |
| Element Room Secure/Non-Secure | |
| A 2A0852B 963-4650/688-7044 | |
| B 3W099 963-4559/688-7141 | |
| D/Q/J/N/U 2B8066G 963-4496/688-6614 | |
| E/M D3B17 968-8050/859-6669 | |
| G 9A195 963-5033/688-7902 | |
| K 2B5136 963-1978/688-5052 | |
| L SAB4 977-7230/688-6194 | |
| P 2W091 963-5302/688-7303 | |
| R B6B710 968-4073/859-4736 | |
| S/V/Y/C/X C2A55 972-2144/688-7549 | |
| T 2B5040 963-4543/688-7364 | |
| W 1C181 963-5970/688-7061 | |
| GUIDE TO SECURITY-RELATED SERVICES | |
| Agency Anonymity 968-8251/859-4381 | |
| Alcohol Rehabilitation Program 963-5420/688-7312 | |
| Cipher Lock Repair 963-1221/688-7119 | |
| Courier Schedules (local) 977-7197/688-7403 | |
| Defense Courier Service 977-7117/688-7826 | |
| Disposal of Classified Waste | |
| - Paper only 972-2150/688-6593 | |
| - Plastics, Metal, Film, etc 963-4103/688-7062 | |
| Locksmith 963-3585/688-7233 | |
| Mail Dissemination and Packaging 977-7117/688-7826 | |
| Medical Center (Fort Meade) 963-5429/688-7263 | |
| (FANX) 968-8960/859-6667 | |
| (Airport Square) 982-7800/859-6155 | |
| NSA/CSS Information Policy Division 963-5825/688-6527 | |
| Personnel Assistance | |
| - Civilian 982-7835/859-6577 | |
| - Air Force 963-3239/688-7980 | |
| - Army 963-3739/688-6393 | |
| - Navy 963-3439/688-7325 | |
| Property Passes (unclassified material) 977-7263/688-7800 | |
| Psychological Services 963-5429/688-7311 | |
| FREQUENTLY USED ACRONYMS/DESIGNATORS | |
| ARFCOS Armed Forces Courier Service (now known as DCS) | |
| AWOL Absent Without Leave | |
| CAO Classification Advisory Officer | |
| COB Close of Business | |
| CWF Civilian Welfare Fund | |
| DCS Defense Courier Service (formerly known as ARFCOS) | |
| DoD Department of Defense | |
| EOD Enter on Duty | |
| FOUO For Official Use Only | |
| M2 Office of Military Personnel | |
| M3 Office of Civilian Personnel | |
| M5 Office of Security | |
| M7 Office of Medical Services | |
| NCS National Cryptologic School | |
| PCS Permanent Change of Station | |
| PIN Personal Identification Number | |
| Q43 Information Policy Division | |
| SDO Security Duty Officer | |
| SOC Security Operations Center | |
| SPO Security Protective Officer | |
| SSO Staff Security Officer | |
| TDY Temporary Duty | |
| UFT Unofficial Foreign Travel | |
| A FINAL NOTE | |
| The information you have just read is designed to serve as a guide to assist | |
| you in the conduct of your security responsibilities. However, it by no means | |
| describes the extent of your obligation to protect information vital to the | |
| defense of our nation. Your knowledge of specific security regulations is part | |
| of a continuing process of education and experience. This handbook is designed | |
| to provide he foundation of this knowledge and serve as a guide to the | |
| development of an attitude of security awareness. | |
| In the final analysis, security is an individual responsibility. As a | |
| participant in the activities of the National Security Agency organization, you | |
| are urged to be always mindful of the importance of the work being accomplished | |
| by NSA and of the unique sensitivity of the Agency's operations. | |