Security Executive Blog

Here are 5 ISP Certification Questions you can try. Right out of ISP Certification-The Industrial Security Professional Exam Manual. 106. Which agency has classification authority and can authorize release of COMSEC information to a foreign person? a. NSA b. DIA c. CIA d. DoD e. DOE 107. The FSO, COMSEC and alternate COMSEC custodian shall be briefed by the _____ or their designee. a. Government representative b. KMP c. FSO d. COR e. Outgoing custodian 108. Initial reports submitted to the FBI must be followed up by: a. Telephone reports and submitted to CSA in writing b. Written reports and a copy submitted to CSA c. Face to Face reports and submitted to CSA in writing d. A and b e. All of the above 109. When sending a report for changes in cleared Key Management Personnel, what information must be included: a. Level of clearance and when cleared; date and place of birth; social security numbers; citizenship; status of exclusion from access b. Spec...

In the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) world, cleared contractors know to perform training to better equip cleared employees to protect classified information. This training comes under many different names and programs; annual security awareness training, annual refresher training, initial security training and required security briefings among others.  Some of the phrases are interchangeable. For example, where the NISPOM requires annual security refresher training, FSOs may conduct “annual refresher training” or similarly worded training events. The point is, regardless of the event title, cleared contractors should conduct training to standards listed in NISPOM Chapter 3 and defend the training with proper documentation. The training execution is left to the contractor as long as the required elements are in place. As a refresher, these elements are: 1.        Reinforce topics provided during the initial sec...

John has a TOP SECRET document that he needs to copy and provide to attendees at a program meeting. He brings the issue to his program manager. "Jane, I need to make copies of this document for the next critical design review. I think I'll need six copies, do you need some as well?" asks John. Jane says, "No, but make sure you use the correct copier and store the copies in the TOP SECRET safe." Just then the FSO walks by and overhears the conversation. "Hi guys, are you talking about that TOP SECRET document? If so, you forgot one very critical step...." Do you know what step the FSO is referring to? Let's break this down to where we are on equal footing concerning the reproduction of classified material for all levels. Reproduction of any classified information should be kept to the minimum amount necessary. After all, we don't need to have our staff, resources, time and money tied up with protecting large volumes of unnecessary ...

Recently the DDTC published new unofficial ITAR with amendments. Over the years, changes have been minor. However, recent changes (July 2012, but posted in Oct) have added about 10 pages to the document. The minor changes include adding countries and new treaty considerations. However the most significant change is the 10 page supplement to part 126. Here are some of the more major changes. 1.  Section 120.1 (c) is completely rewritten from: (c) Eligibility . Only U.S. persons  (as defined in §120.15) and foreign governmental entities in the United States  may be granted licenses  or other approvals (other than retransfer  approvals sought pursuant to this subchapter). Foreign persons  (as defined in §120.16) other than governments are not eligible. U.S. person s who have been convicted of violating the criminal statutes enumerated in §120.27, who have been debarred pursuant to part 127 or 128 of this subchapter, who are the subject of an indic...