Security Executive Blog

Get your copy @ www.redbikepublishing.com Here's how to use our study guide: 1. Use hard copy or download online version of NISPOM to search for answers. http://www.esd.whs.mil/Portals/54/Documents/DD/issuances/dodm/522022M.pdf 2. Mark best answer for each choice. 3. Once complete, check your answers against the answer key below. Taking practice tests is a great way to prepare for an exam. Successful students in grade school and college study using guides and exam preparation questions based on the test subject material. This same successful methodology can also help prepare for professional exams like ISP Certification and SPeD Certification. DSS has study material and tests available for those who enrol, NCMS has test study material as well. Practice tests augment certification exam preparation.  Red Bike Publishing's Unofficial St...

As discussed in an earlier installation in the series covering the Self Inspection Handbook for NIST Contractors , the government depends on Cleared Defense Contractors (CDC) to operate security programs designed to protect classified information from receipt to disposition. This article addresses the safe and secure removal of classified information. Question: Are procedures established to review classified holdings on a recurring basis for the purpose of maintaining classified inventories to the minimum required for classified operations?  Answer: NISPOM 5-701. Contractors shall establish procedures for review of their classified holdings on a recurring basis to reduce these classified inventories to the minimum necessary for effective and efficient operations. Multiple copies, obsolete material, and classified waste shall be destroyed as soon as practical after it has served its purpose. Any appropriate downgrading and declassification actions shall be taken on a timely ba...

Adjudicative Guideline H: Drug Involvement is another concern that could lead to the denial or revocation of a security clearance. Drug involvement includes the abuse of illicit and legal drugs. However, a review of security clearance cases demonstrates that marijuana continues to be a concern for many applicants. Additionally, new state laws, public opinion, and attitudes may make it tempting for Americans to casually use marijuana and other drugs.  Recently Colorado and other states have legalized the use of marijuana and some states also allow the use of medical marijuana. However, where national security is concerned, marijuana and the abuse of legal and illicit drugs for any reason can be cause for denial of a security clearance.  Self-medicating  An applicant was denied a clearance for marijuana as a source of “self-medication”. Applicant experienced back pain for a significant length of time and prescribed himself the benefit of marijuana to ease the pain. Ho...

Get your copy @ www.redbikepublishing.com If you are serious about advancing in your field, get security certification.  Taking practice tests is a great way to prepare for an exam. Successful students in grade school and college study using guides and exam preparation questions based on the test subject material. This same successful methodology can also help prepare for professional exams like ISP Certification and SPeD Certification. DSS has study material and tests available for those who enrol, NCMS has test study material as well. Practice tests augment certification exam preparation.  Red Bike Publishing's Unofficial Study Guide  features four complete test length practice exams based on  NISPOM . It could help you pass the ISP and SPeD certification exams. We've updated our manual for NISPOM Change 2. Have a go at some new questions.  Try these questions to see how you do: 1 . How many days ...

Applicants for security clearance must demonstrate that they can protect sensitive information.  Under Guideline K , “deliberate or negligent failure to comply with rules and regulations for protecting classified or other sensitive information raises doubt about an individual’s trustworthiness, judgment, reliability, or willingness and ability to safeguard such information, and is a serious security concern.” Any history of allowing unauthorized access, forgetting to enforce security rules, or loaning out passwords will definitely raise red flags and call trustworthiness into question. Review the following cases and see if you can identify the Guideline K issues. YOU’RE JUST SAYING THAT TO GET ME A clearance holder brought a camera into a restricted area against security rules. Additionally he committed many other security violations to include discussing sensitive information with unauthorized non-U.S. persons in an unauthorized area, left foreign nationals unat...

Criminal activity creates doubt about a person’s judgment, reliability and trustworthiness. Criminal behavior is an indicator of whether or not an applicant will follow laws, rules and regulations. This is a critical concern where cleared employees are expected to comply with NISPOM guidance , rules, and laws as they discharge their duties and protect classified information. In fact, an applicant does not even have to be charged, prosecuted, or convicted to cause a security clearance denial.    The following cases demonstrate how applicants clearly violated laws and directives. Their security clearances were denied because their criminal behavior created doubt about their ability to protect classified information. I MADE YOU SAY “UNDERWEAR”   For some reason, the applicant decided to undress and parade around in his underwear. After undressing in a department store’s dressing room, the applicant left the room in on...