Physical Security
NCSC works with the Department of State to protect classified national security information and to perform other security-related functions affecting U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities abroad.
Technical and cyber threat assessments bring an understanding of foreign scientific and technical developments and capabilities that might pose potential threats, targets, or opportunities for the U.S. Government and its partners.
Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) represent the convergence of counterintelligence and security. Countermeasures are designed to detect and nullify a wide variety of technologies used to gain unauthorized access to classified national security information, restricted data or otherwise sensitive information.
Relevant Reports, Briefings, & Reading Material
i. Protecting U.S. Embassies and Consulates
NCSC, in consultation with the IC, works with Department of State (DoS) to protect classified national security information and to perform other security-related functions affecting U.S. diplomatic and consular facilities abroad. NCSC provides IC input to the DoS biannual Security Environment Threat List for the Human Intelligence and Technical Threat categories and conducts risk assessments for U.S. diplomatic facilities abroad in response to specific requests from DoS that involve analyses of asset value, threats, and vulnerabilities as well as recommendations for risk mitigation.
NCSC has responsibility for overseas security which requires: maintaining databases on foreign intelligence threats to and the vulnerabilities of U.S. diplomatic facilities abroad; collaborating with the IC and DoS to enhance information assurance standards and policies for the protection of classified national security information held in U.S. diplomatic facilities abroad, and partnering with DoS, industry and the IC elements to assess technical security shortfalls, identify solutions and manage the integration of emerging technologies to improve security countermeasures.
ii. Protecting IC Facilities Domestically and Abroad
NCSC oversees the management of U.S. Government facilities containing Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs) and a framework for common security standards for IC domestic facilities enabling savings through shared, multi-use spaces. NCSC provides a single automated source for secure facility information worldwide. SCIF locations can be an invaluable tool to identify sites in jeopardy due to national disasters, heightened security alerts, as well as domestic and international hostilities.
iii. Technical Threat Assessment and Technical Surveillance Countermeasures
The protection of national intelligence and intelligence sources and methods, and the neutralization of foreign intelligence threats, are fundamental to the success of the CI and security mission. Technical and cyber threat assessments bring an understanding of foreign scientific and technical developments and capabilities that might pose potential threats, targets, or opportunities for the U.S. Government and its partners.
Technical Surveillance Countermeasures (TSCM) represent the convergence of counterintelligence and security. Countermeasures are designed to detect and nullify a wide variety of technologies used to gain unauthorized access to classified national security information, restricted data or otherwise sensitive information.
Information on foreign technical penetrations, technical surveillance, or technical collection efforts against the U.S. is centralized and managed, including information and techniques obtained through U.S. TSCM activities and subsequent CI investigations.
