October 2012 and NISPOM

Can you believe that it is already October 2012? Where did this year go? So many things have happened. Some of the most obvious are reflected in school years beginning and ending, change in sporting events and seasons, vacations come and gone, and now we are forming planning committees to get ready for the corporate Christmas party. But, there are still more ominous events yet to take place. Are you ready? Are you even prepared to take on cataclysmic events of 2012?

Earth Shaking Events

At this time, you’re probably thinking about the Mayan calendar or even the upcoming election. However, I’m referring to something more impacting...As of October 2012 steel filing cabinets are no longer authorized to store classified information in.

Who would have thought when the 2006 NISPOM arrived, we’d be at this point?

But, here we are, six years later and hopefully we have planned accordingly to make the purchases early and budget to meet compliance; the Cognizant Security Office will be sure to inspect this issue at your next Security Review.

Approve Containers

General Services Administration (GSA) establishes and publishes minimum standards, specifications, and supply schedules for containers, vault doors, modular vaults, alarm systems, and associated security devices suitable for storing and protecting classified information. If you haven’t already done so, you will need to store classified information in a GSA approved container.  Here are a few considerations for your GSA approved container:

• Class 6 containers are typically used for storage of classified information They come in file cabinet and map and plan styles and are good for documents, laptops, software, hard drives maps and other small items.
• Classified and non-classified materials should never be stored together.
• GSA approved containers must have a GSA label affixed to the front…
• no GSA label; it’s not an approved container and will have to be recertified. You can find information here. 

Remember when the 2006 NISPOM arrived? Facility Security Officers found themselves with very little time to enforce change. Within months, we were required to enter security clearance requests, SF 86’s and personnel records in JPAS and destroy reams worth of printed personnel security records and delete soft files. JPAS was also recognized as the approved method of transferring Visit Authorization Requests. There was a lot of preparation as professionals recognized the change requirements. In the GSA approved container, the industry had a six year lead to enforce change. Is your organization ready?

Jeffrey W. Bennett, ISP is the owner of Red Bike Publishing Red Bike Publishing . Jeff is an accomplished writer of non-fiction books, novels and periodicals. He also owns Red bike Publishing. Published books include: "Get Rich in a Niche-Insider's Guide to Self Publishing in a Specialized Industry" and "Commitment-A Novel". Jeff is an expert in security and has written many security books including: "Insider's Guide to Security Clearances" and "DoD Security Clearances and Contracts Guidebook", "ISP Certification-The Industrial Security Professional Exam Manual", and NISPOM/FSO Training" See Red Bike Publishing for print copies of: Army Leadership, The Ranger Handbook, The Army Physical Readiness Manual, Drill and Ceremonies, The ITAR,and The NISPOM