Guideline for Identifying an Information

 System as a National Security System
 

NIST Special Publication 800-59 Guideline for Identifying an 

Information System as a 

National Security System 

William C. Barker 

I N F O R M A T I O N S E C U R I T Y
 

Computer Security Division 

Information Technology Laboratory 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8930 

August 2003 

U.S. Department of Commerce 

Donald L. Evans, Secretary 

Technology Administration 

Phillip J. Bond, Under Secretary of Commerce for Technology 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director 
Guideline for Identifying an Information

 System as a National Security System
 

Reports on Computer Systems Technology 

The Information Technology Laboratory (ITL) at the National Institute of Standards (NIST) promotes the 

U.S. economy and public welfare by providing technical leadership for the Nation’s measurement and standards 

infrastructure for information technology. ITL develops tests, test methods, reference data, proof of concept 

implementations and technical analyses to advance the development and productive use of information technology. 

ITL’s responsibilities include the development of technical, physical, administrative, and management standards and 

guidelines for the cost-effective security and privacy of sensitive unclassified information in federal computer systems. 

This Special Publication 800 series reports on ITL’s research, guidance, and outreach efforts in computer security, and 

its collaborative activities with industry, government, and academic organizations. 

National Institute of Standards and Technology, Special Publication 800-59
 

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 800-59, 21 pages (August 2003)
 

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Guideline for Identifying an Information

 System as a National Security System
 

GUIDELINE FOR
 

IDENTIFICATION OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS AS
 

NATIONAL SECURITY SYSTEMS
 

Table of Contents 

Table of Contents.....................................................................................iii
 

1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................1
 

2.0 Basis for Identification of National Security Systems............................3
 

3.0 Method for Identifying National Security Systems...............................5
 3.1 Determination of Responsibilities............................................................................. 5
 

3.2 National Security System Identification Checklist ................................................... 6
 

3.3 Dispute Resolution.................................................................................................... 6
 

Appendix A: National Security System Identification Checklist..................7
 

A.1 Minimum Question Set ........................................................................................... 7
 

A.1.1 Intelligence Activities ....................................................................................... 7
 

A.1.2 Cryptologic Activities ....................................................................................... 8
 

A.1.3 Command and Control of Military Forces........................................................ 8
 

A.1.4 Weapons and Weapons Systems ....................................................................... 8
 

A.1.5 Systems Critical to the Direct Fulfillment of Military or Intelligence Missions
 

..................................................................................................................................... 8
 

A.1.6 Classified Systems ............................................................................................ 9
 

A.2 Optional Checklist Material..................................................................................... 9
 

A.3 Checklist................................................................................................................ 10
 

Appendix B: References.......................................................................... 11
 

Appendix C: Glossary of Terms .............................................................. 13
 

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Guideline for Identifying an Information

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1.0 Introduction 

This document provides guidelines developed in conjunction with the Department of 

Defense, including the National Security Agency, for identifying an information system 

as a national security system. The basis for these guidelines is the Federal Information 

Security Management Act of 2002 (FISMA, Title III, Public Law 107-347, December 17, 

2002), which provides government-wide requirements for information security, 

superseding the Government Information Security Reform Act and the Computer 

Security Act. 

FISMA both provides a framework for ensuring the effectiveness of information security 

controls over information resources that support Federal operations and assets and 

provides for the maintenance of minimum controls required to protect Federal 

information and information systems. Federal agencies are responsible for providing 

information security protection of information collected or maintained by or on behalf of 

the agency and information systems used or operated by or on behalf of the agency. The 

head of each Federal agency is also responsible for (1) assessing the risk and magnitude 

of the harm that could result from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, 

modification, or destruction of information or information systems that support 

operations or assets under their control; (2) determining the levels of information 

security appropriate to protect such information and information systems; (3) 

implementing policies and procedures to cost-effectively reduce risks to an acceptable 

level; and (4) periodically testing and evaluating information security controls and 

techniques to ensure that they are effectively implemented. 

Except for national security systems as defined by FISMA, the Secretary of Commerce is 

responsible for prescribing standards and guidelines pertaining to Federal information 

systems on the basis of standards and guidelines developed by NIST. The Committee on 

National Security Systems (CNSS) along with Federal agencies that operate systems 

falling within the definition of national security systems provide security standards and 

guidance for national security systems. In addition to defining the term national security 

system FISMA amended the NIST Act, at 15 U.SC. 278g-3(b)(3), to require NIST to 

provide guidelines for identifying an information system as a national security system. As 

stated in the House Committee report, “This guidance is not to govern such systems, but 

rather to ensure that agencies receive consistent guidance on the identification of systems 

that should be governed by national security system requirements.” Report of the 

Committee on Government Reform, U. S House of Representatives, Report 107-787, 

November 14, 2002, p. 85. 

The Department of Defense and the Director, Central Intelligence have authority to 

develop policies, guidelines, and standards for national security systems. The Director, 

Central Intelligence is responsible for policies relating to systems processing intelligence 

information. The Committee for National Security Systems, whose executive agent is the 

National Security Agency, was established to develop operating policies, procedures, 

guidelines, instructions and standards as necessary to implement provisions of the 

National Policy for the Security of National Security Telecommunications and 

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Information Systems (see NSTISSD Number 502). The Director of the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) retains responsibility for oversight of national security 

system information security policies and practices with respect to: 

•	 Overseeing agency compliance with the requirements of Subchapter III of 

Chapter 35 of Title 44, United States Code, including through any authorized 

action under Title 40, United States Code, section 11303, to enforce 

accountability for compliance with such requirements; and 

•	 Reporting to Congress no later than March 1 of each year on agency compliance 

with the requirements of Subchapter III of Chapter 35 of Title 44 United States 

Code, including – 

o	 A summary of the findings of evaluations required by 44 U.S.C. 3545; 

o	 An assessment of the development, promulgation, and adoption of, and 

compliance with, standards developed under 15 USC 278g-3 and 

promulgated under 40 U.S.C. 11331; 

o	 Significant deficiencies in agency information security practices; 

o	 Planned remedial action to address such deficiencies; and 

o	 A summary of, and OMB views on, the report prepared by NIST under 15 

USC 278g-3. 

Accordingly, the purpose of these guidelines is not to establish requirements for national 

security systems, but rather to assist agencies in determining which, if any, of their 

systems are national security systems as defined by FISMA and are to be governed by 

applicable requirements for such systems, issued in accordance with law and as directed 

by the President. 

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2.0 Basis for Identification of National Security Systems 

The basis for the identification of 'national security systems' is the definition provided in 

law (44 U.S.C. 3542(b)(2), which was established by FISMA, Title III, Public Law 107­

347, December 17, 2002): 

“(2)(A) The term `national security system' means any information system (including 

any telecommunications system) used or operated by an agency or by a contractor 

of an agency, or other organization on behalf of an agency— 

(i) the function, operation, or use of which— 

(I) involves intelligence activities; 

(II) involves cryptologic activities related to national security; 

(III) involves command and control of military forces; 

(IV) involves equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons 

system; or 

(V) subject to subparagraph (B), is critical to the direct fulfillment of 

military or intelligence missions; or 

(ii) is protected at all times by procedures established for information that have 

been specifically authorized under criteria established by an Executive order or an 

Act of Congress to be kept classified1

 in the interest of national defense or foreign 

policy. 

(B) Subparagraph (A)(i)(V) does not include a system that is to be used for routine 

administrative and business applications (including payroll, finance, logistics, and 

personnel management applications).” 

Systems not meeting any of these criteria are not national security systems. (Further 

delineation of the legal definition of the term national security system is found in 

Appendix A to this guideline.) 

As described in the House Committee report, FISMA’s national security system 

definition “encompasses the longstanding statutory treatment of military and intelligence 

1 *

 See Glossary definition for classified information. See also Executive Order 13292 under the authority 

of which information may be classified. 

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Guideline for Identifying an Information

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mission-related systems and classified systems.” House Report 107-787, p. 77. It 

combines the “Warner Amendment” national security system definition, e.g., section 

5142 of the Clinger-Cohen Act, at 40 U.S.C. 11103(a), and the treatment of classified 

systems under section 3 of the Computer Security Act of 1987. 

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3.0 Method for Identifying National Security Systems 

3.1 Determination of Responsibilities 

The head of each agency is responsible for designating an agency information security 

official to determine which, if any, agency systems are national security systems. 

Each agency is responsible for identification of all national security systems under its 

ownership or control. Answering each of the questions stated in the National Security 

System Identification Checklist, provided as Appendix A to this guideline, is one method 

for documenting the basis for determination. If the answer to any of the questions is 

affirmative, the system is designated a national security system. Note that use of the 

specific form provided in Appendix A is not mandatory. Agencies may develop and use 

an alternate methodology. It is anticipated that some agencies will require answers to 

additional questions. However, each of the questions listed on the sample checklist 

should be answered and recorded. 

Ideally, a national security system should be designated as early as possible in its life 

cycle. The set of certification and accreditation standards, policies, procedures, 

guidelines, and instructions that apply to each system depend on whether or not the 

system is a national security system. For systems that are currently in operation, and for 

which no national security determination has been made, such determination should be 

accomplished as soon as possible. 

Under the provisions of Title 44 United States Code § 3542(b)(2)(A)(i)(V), it is possible 

that some systems not originally established as national security systems may become 

national security systems as a result of being designated as critical to the direct 

fulfillment of military or intelligence missions.2 If the manager of a military or 

intelligence mission determines that a system is critical to that mission, and the system 

has not previously been identified as a national security system, the manager responsible 

for that mission must so identify the system to the responsible entity designated by the 

head of the agency that owns and/or operates the system (see Appendix A, Section 

A.1.5). 

When the manager of a military or intelligence mission determines that a system is no 

longer critical to that mission, or when the mission is terminated, the manager responsible 

for that mission must so notify the responsible entity designated by the head of the 

agency that owns and/or operates the system, and the system ceases to be designated a 

national security system. [Note that if a system is designated as a national security 

system and then removed from that designation (and possibly be moved back at a later 

time), it may prove very difficult to satisfy the changing security requirements on the 

system. Therefore, such actions should not be taken casually.] 

2

 Subparagraph (A)(i)(V) does not include a system that is to be used for routine administrative and 

business applications (including payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel management applications. 

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3.2 National Security System Identification Checklist 

The National Security System Identification Checklist provided in Appendix A includes 

six questions. An affirmative answer to one or more of the six questions should result in 

the system being designated as a national security system. The six questions included in 

the checklist is only the minimum set of questions on which a national security 

designation may be based.3 Individual departments and agencies may choose to include 

additional questions so long as the decision regarding designation of a system as a 

national security system is based exclusively on the definition provided in Section 2.0 of 

this guideline. 

3.3 Dispute Resolution 

In some cases, a system owner may disagree with a determination by an organization 

supported by the system regarding whether the system is critical to the direct fulfillment 

of military or intelligence missions. If the agency that owns and/or operates a system 

disputes identification of the system as a national security system, either the agency or 

the mission manager may submit the issue to both the CNSS and the appropriate office at 

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMB will coordinate with other 

cognizant offices of the Executive Office of the President as required. 

If there is a dispute regarding security classification of information processed by a 

system, the dispute must be submitted to the appropriate internal challenge program4

 for 

resolution. If the dispute cannot be resolved under the internal challenge program, or if a 

dispute involves more than one agency, the issue may be submitted to the Information 

Security Oversight Office (ISOO) for resolution. The ISOO may be contacted at 

Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives and Records Administration, 

700 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Room 500, Washington, DC 20408.5

 Any remaining 

issues may be submitted to the National Security Council. 

3 Note that use of the specific form provided in Appendix A is not mandatory.
 4

 Section 1.8(b) of E.O. 13292 [7] requires internal challenge programs for resolution of differences 

regarding classification of information.
 5

 Electronic mail address is isoo@nara.gov.
 

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Appendix A: National Security System Identification 

Checklist 

The National Security System Identification Checklist provided in this Appendix includes 

six questions designed to determine whether the system meets the definition of a national 

security system provided in Section 2. An affirmative answer to one or more of the six 

questions should result in the system being designated as a national security system. The 

checklist contained in this Appendix is only one alternative for documenting the basis for 

national security system determination. Note that use of the specific form provided herein is not mandatory. A department or agency may develop and use an alternate checklist 

or methodology. 

A.1 Minimum Question Set 

In order for a system to be designated a national security system, one of the following 

questions must be answered in the affirmative: 

•	 Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve intelligence activities? 

•	 Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve cryptologic activities 

related to national security? 

•	 Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve command and control 

of military forces? 

•	 Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve equipment that is an 

integral part of a weapon or weapons system? 

•	 Is the system critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions? 

•	 Does the system store, process, or communicate classified information? 

These questio ns are included in the checklist found in Section A.3 of this guideline. The 

following paragraphs provide some explanation and/or conditions applying to each 

question. 

A.1.1 Intelligence Activities 

For purposes of this guideline, the term “intelligence activity” means all activities that 

agencies within the Intelligence community are authorized to conduct pursuant to 

Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence Activities. As authorized by statute6

, 

intelligence activities may also include counter drug or counter terrorism intelligence that 

does not concern foreign countries if the intelligence information was collected or 

developed by 1) an organization or organizations subordinate to the Director of Central 

6

E.g., Chapter 18 of Title 10, United States Code 124 and Chapter 35 of Title 44 United States Code. 

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Intelligence or 2) National Foreign Intelligence Programs subordinate to the Secretary of 

Defense. Box 1 on the checklist should be marked yes if and only if the function, 

operation, or use of the system involves intelligence activities as defined herein. 

A.1.2 Cryptologic Activities 

For purposes of completing the National Security System Identification Checklist, 

“cryptologic activities” include signals intelligence activities, covered under intelligence 

activities, and the solutions, products, and services to ensure the availability, integrity, 

authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of national security 

telecommunications and information systems. Box 2 should be marked yes if and only if 

the function, operation, or use of the system involves cryptologic activities as defined 

herein. 

A.1.3 Command and Control of Military Forces 

For purposes of this guideline, command and control is the exercise of authority and 

direction by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached forces in the 

accomplishment of the mission. Command and control functions are performed through 

an arrangement of personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures 

employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, and controlling forces 

and operations in the accomplishment of the mission. Box 3 of the National Security 

System Identification Checklist should be marked yes if and only if the function, 

operation, or use of the system involve command and control of military forces. 

A.1.4 Weapons and Weapons Systems 

For purposes of this guideline, weapons are defined as being limited to weapons owned 

by and/or under the control of military forces of the United States and any weapons of 

mass destruction. 7 A weapons system is a combination of one or more weapons with all 

related equipment, materials, services, personnel, and means of delivery and deployment 

(if applicable) required for self-sufficiency. Box 4 of the National Security System 

Identification Checklist should be marked yes if and only if the system involves 

equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system as defined herein. 

A.1.5 Systems Critical to the Direct Fulfillment of Military or 

Intelligence Missions 

Systems that are critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions are 

designated as national security systems unless they are to be used exclusively for routine 

administrative and business applications. Examples of routine administrative and 

business systems include those having payroll, finance, logistics, and personnel 

management applications. Systems having high priority products associated with eventbased urgency, such as systems critical to direct mission fulfillment by deployed or 

contingency military forces, are not routine. Box 5 of the National Security System 

Identification Checklist should be marked yes if and only if the system is critical to the 

7

 The term weapon, as used herein, encompasses kinetic weapons, other nuclear/biological/chemical (NBC) 

weapons and computer network attack (CNA) weapons. 

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direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions and is not used exclusively for 

routine administrative and business applications. 

A.1.6 Classified Systems 

A system is a national security system if it processes, stores, or communicates classified 

information. Executive orders and Acts of Congress have directed that some specific 

systems are to be protected at all times by procedures that have been established for 

information that is to be kept classified8

 in order to protect national defense or foreign 

policy interests. Authority to assign security classifications to information is delegated in 

Executive Order 12958 as amended by Executive Order 13292. Any system processing 

information that is determined to be classified based upon one or more agency 

classification guides is a classified system. Box 6 of the National Security System 

Identification Checklist should be marked yes if and only if the system contains or 

processes classified information. 

A.2 Optional Checklist Material 

The six questions included in the Appendix A checklist is only the minimum set of 

questions on which a national security designation may be based. Individual departments 

and agencies may choose to include additional questions so long as the decision 

regarding designation of a system as a national security system is based exclusively on 

the definition provided in Section 2.0 of this guideline. Examples of questions that a 

department or agency may employ to provide clarification, amplification, and/or 

justification follow: 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit military plans? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information on weapon systems? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information regarding military 

operations? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information on intelligence activities, 

sources or methods? 

•	 Does this system involve cryptologic activities related to national security? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information regarding foreign 

relations or foreign activities? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information regarding scientific, 

technological, or economic matters relating to national security, including defense 

against transnational terrorism? 

•	 Does this system involve programs for safeguarding nuclear materials or 

facilities? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information on weapons of mass 

destruction? 

•	 Does this system process, store, or transmit information on vulnerabilities or 

capabilities of systems, installations, infrastructures, projects, plans, or protection 

services relating to national security, including defense against transnational 

terrorism? 

8

 See Glossary definition for classified information. 

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Guideline for Identifying an Information

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•	 Is the information on this system classified in accordance with one or more of 

your agency's classification guides? 

A.3 Checklist 

National Security System Identification Checklist 

System Identification: 

Answer each question in the box provided to the right of the question. Answer yes or no. 

(1) Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve intelligence 

activities? 

(1) 

(2) Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve cryptologic 

activities related to national security? 

(2) 

(3) Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve military command 

and control of military forces? 

(3) 

(4) Does the function, operation, or use of the system involve equipment that is 

an integral part of a weapon or

 weapons system? 

(4) 

(5) If the use of the system is not routine administrative or business applications,

 is the system critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence

 missions? 

(5) 

(6) Does the system store, process, or communicate classified information? (6) 

If the answer to any of the six questions is “Yes”, then the system is a national security system.

 Is this system a national security system? 

Organization of Respondent: Address of Organization: 

Telephone:____________ 

Name of Respondent: Signature of Respondent: Date: 

(dd/mm/yy) 

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Appendix B: References
 

[10 USC Ch 18] Title 10, United States Code, Chapter 18 – Military Support for 

Civilian Law Enforcement Activities. 

[15 USC 278g-3] Title 15, United States Code, Chapter 7 – National Institute of 

Standards and Technology, Section 278g-3 – Information Systems 

Standards Program. 

[40 USC Subt III] Title 40, United States Code, Subtitle III – Information 

Technology Management, Section 11101 – Definitions, and 

Section 1103 – Applicability to National Security Systems, Public 

Law 107-217, 8/21/02 [codified the Clinger-Cohen Act]. 

[44 USC Ch 35(I)] Title 44, United States Code, Chapter 35 - Coordination of Federal 

Information Policy, Subchapter I - Federal Information Policy, 

Sec. 3502 - Definitions. 

[44 USC Ch 35(III)] Title 44, United States Code, Chapter 35 – Coordination of 

Federal Information Policy, Subchapter III - Information Security, 

Sec. 3542 - Definitions, Public Law 107-347,12/17/02. 

[47 USC Ch 5] Title 47, United States Code, Chapter 5 – Wire or Radio 

Communications, Subchapter I – General Provisions, Sec. 153 ­

Definitions. 

[50 USC Ch 15] Title 50, United States Code, Chapter 15 – National Security, 

Section 401a – Definitions. 

[ANSDIT] American National Standard Dictionary of Information 

Technology (ANSDIT). (Approved April 5, 2002) 

(Revision and redesignation of ANSI X3.172-1996). 

[CNSS 4009] CNSS Instruction No. 4009, National Information Assurance 

Glossary, Committee for National Security Systems 

[Crypto Pub 1-0] National Cryptologic Doctrine, Cryptology, Cryptologic 

Publication 1-0, National Security Agency October 1, 2001. 

[EO 12863] President’s Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board, Executive Order 

12863, 9/13/93. 

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[EO 13292] Classified National Security Information, Executive Order 13292, 

March 25, 2003. [Amends Executive Order 12958] 

[EO 12333] United States Intelligence Activities, Executive Order 12333, 

December 8, 1981 

[FISMA] Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002, Public 

Law 107-347, Title III, 12/17/02. 

[HSA] Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296, Title II – 

Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection, Subtitle A – 

Directorate for Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection: 

Access to Information, Section 202 – Access to Information, 

11/25/02. 

[Joint Pub 1-02] Department of Defense Dictionary of Military and Associated 

Terms, Joint Publication 1-02, Rev. 8/14/02. 

[T1.523] Telcom Glossary 2000, American National Standards Institute, 

ANS T1.523-2001, 2001 

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Appendix C: Glossary of Terms 

Definitions of terms provided in this glossary have been extracted from public laws, 

Executive Branch publications and orders, and American National Standards Institute 

publications. 

 Agency ­

[44 USC 3502 (1)] 

The term 'agency' means any executive department, military 

department, government corporation, government controlled 

corporation, or other establishment in the executive branch of the 

government (including the Executive Office of the President), or 

any independent regulatory agency, but does not include ­

(a) the General Accounting Office; 

(b) Federal Election Commission; 

(c) the governments of the District of Columbia and of the

 territories and possessions of the United States, and 

their various subdivisions; or 

(d) Government-owned contractor-operated facilities,

 including laboratories engaged in national defense 

research and production activities. 

Availability ­

[44 USC 3542 (b)(1)(C)] 

As defined in FISMA, the term 'availability' means ensuring timely 

and reliable access to and use of information. 

Authentication ­

[CNSS 4009] 

Security measures designed to establish the validity of a 

transmission, message, or originator, or a means of verifying an 

individual’s authorization to receive specific categories of 

information. 

Classified Information – 

[E.O. 13292]	 Classified information or classified national security information 

means information that has been determined pursuant to E. O. 

12958 as amended by E.O. 13292 or any predecessor order to 

require protection against unauthorized disclosure and is marked to 

indicate its classified status when in documentary form. 

Command and Control – 

[Joint Pub 1-02]	 'Command and Control' is the exercise of authority and direction 

by a properly designated commander over assigned and attached 

forces in the accomplishment of the mission. Command and 

control functions are performed through an arrangement of 

personnel, equipment, communications, facilities, and procedures 

employed by a commander in planning, directing, coordinating, 

and controlling forces and operations in the accomplishment of the 

mission. 

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Confidentiality - The term 'confidentiality' means preserving authorized restrictions 

[44 USC 3542 (b)(1)(B)]	 on access and disclosure, including means for protecting personal 

privacy and proprietary information. 

Counterintelligence – 

[50 USC 401a]	 The term 'counterintelligence' means information gathered and 

activities conducted to protect against espionage, other intelligence 

activities, sabotage, or assassinations conducted by or on behalf of 

foreign governments or elements thereof, foreign organizations, or 

foreign persons, or international terrorist activities. 

Cryptography - The discipline that embodies the principles, means, and methods 

[ANSDIT]	 for the transformation of data in order to hide their semantic 

content, prevent their unauthorized use, or prevent their undetected 

modification. 

Cryptologic - The term 'cryptologic' means of or pertaining to cryptology. 

[Joint Pub 1-02] 

Cryptology - Originally the field encompassing both cryptography and 

[Crypto Pub 1-0]	 cryptanalysis. Today, cryptology in the U.S. Government is the 

collection and/or exploitation of foreign communications and noncommunications emitters, known as SIGINT; and solutions, 

products, and services, to ensure the availability, integrity, 

authentication, confidentiality, and non-repudiation of national 

security telecommunications and information systems, known as 

IA. 

Executive Agency - An executive department specified in 5 U.S.C., Section 101; a 

[41 USC 403]	 military department specified in 5 U.S.C., Section 102; an 

independent establishment as defined in 5 U.S.C., Section 104(1); 

and a wholly owned Government corporation fully subject to the 

provisions of 31 U.S.C. Chapter 91. 

Federal Information System– 

[40 USC 101]	 An information system used or operated by an executive agency, 

by a contractor of an executive agency, or by another organization 

on behalf of an executive agency. 

Independent Regulatory Agency – 

[44 USC 3502 (5)]	 The term 'independent regulatory agency' means the Board of 

Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Commodity Futures 

Trading Commission, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 

the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Deposit 

Insurance Corporation, the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, the Federal Housing Finance Board, the Federal 

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Maritime Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the 

Interstate Commerce Commission, the Mine Enforcement Safety 

and Health Review Commission, the National Labor Relations 

Board, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Occupational 

Safety and Health Review Commission, the Postal Rate 

Commission, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and any 

other similar agency designated by statute as a Federal independent 

regulatory agency or commission. 

Information ­ 1. Facts, data, or instructions in any medium or form. 2. The 

[Joint Pub 1-02] meaning that a human assigns to data by means of the known 

conventions used in their representation. 

Information Assurance – 

[CNSS 4009]	 Measures that protect and defend information and information 

systems by ensuring their availability, integrity, authentication, 

confidentiality, and non-repudiation. These measures include 

providing for restoration of information systems by incorporating 

protection, detection, and reaction capabilities. 

Information Resources – 

[44 USC 3502 (6)]	 The term 'information resources' means information and related 

resources, such as personnel, equipment, funds, and information 

technology. 

Information Security ­

[44 USC 3542 (b)(1)]	 The term 'information security' means protecting information and 

information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, 

disruption, modification, or destruction in order to provide 

integrity, confidentiality, and availability. 

Information System -The term 'information system' means a discrete set of information 

[44 USC 3502 (8)]	 resources organized for the collection, processing, maintenance, 

use, sharing, dissemination, or disposition of information. 

Information Technology – 

[40 USC 11101 (6)]	 The term 'information technology', with respect to an executive 

agency means any equipment or interconnected system or 

subsystem of equipment, that is used in the automatic acquisition, 

storage, manipulation, management, movement, control, display, 

switching, interchange, transmission, or reception of data or 

information by the executive agency. For purposes of the 

preceding sentence, equipment is used by an executive agency if 

the equipment is used by the executive agency directly or is used 

by a contractor under a contract with the executive agency which 

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Guideline for Identifying an Information

 System as a National Security System 

(i) requires the use of such equipment, or (ii) requires the use, to a 

significant extent, of such equipment in the performance of a 

service or the furnishing of a product. The term ''information 

technology'' includes computers, ancillary equipment, software, 

firmware and similar procedures, services (including support 

services), and related resources. The term ''information 

technology'' does not include any equipment that is acquired by a 

Federal contractor incidental to a Federal contract. 

Integrity ­ The term 'integrity' means guarding against improper information 

[44 USC 3542 (b)(1)(A)] modification or destruction, and includes ensuring information 

non-repudiation and authenticity. 

Intelligence ­ The term 'intelligence' means (1) the product resulting from the 

[Joint Pub 1-02] collection, processing, integration, analysis, evaluation, and 

[50 USC Ch 15] interpretation of available information concerning foreign 

countries or areas; or (2) information and knowledge about an 

adversary obtained through observation, investigation, analysis, or 

understanding. The term 'intelligence' includes foreign intelligence 

and counterintelligence. 

Intelligence Activities – 

[EO 12333]	 The term 'intelligence activities' includes all activities that agencies 

within the Intelligence Community are authorized to conduct 

pursuant to Executive Order 12333, United States Intelligence 

Activities. 

Intelligence Community – 

[EO 12333]	 The term 'intelligence community' refers to the following agencies 

or organizations: 

(1) The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA); 

(2) The National Security Agency (NSA); 

(3) The Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA); 

(4) The offices within the Department of Defense for the collection 

of specialized national foreign intelligence through reconnaissance 

programs; 

(5) The Bureau of Intelligence and Research of the Department of 

State; 

(6) The intelligence elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and 

Marine Corps, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the 

Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Energy; and 

(7) The staff elements of the Director of Central Intelligence. 

Non-repudiation - Assurance the sender of data is provided with proof of delivery and 

[CNSS 4009]	 the recipient is provided with proof of the sender’s identity, so 

neither can later deny having processed the data. 

SP 800-59	 PAGE 16 
 

Guideline for Identifying an Information

 System as a National Security System 

Public Information - The term 'public information' means any information, regardless of 

[44 USC 3502 (12)]	 form or format, that an agency discloses, disseminates, or makes 

available to the public. 

Telecommunications – 

[47 USC 5 153]	 The term 'telecommunications' means the transmission, between or 

among points specified by the user, of information of the user's 

choosing, without change in the form or content of the information 

as sent and received. 

Weapons System - A 'weapons system' is a combination of one or more weapons with 

[Joint Pub 1-02]	 all related equipment, materials, services, personnel, and means of 

delivery and deployment (if applicable) required for selfsufficiency. 

SP 800-59	 PAGE 17