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The '''[http://www.nsa.gov/ National Security Agency]''' was created in 1952 as an agency of [[DoD]] by secret Executive Order. For decades its existence was not made public, and the only extensive public description of its operations were provided in the book, ''The Puzzle Palace,''<ref>James Bamford, The Puzzle Palace (1983).</ref> which the agency tried to prevent from being published. |
The '''[http://www.nsa.gov/ National Security Agency]''' was created in 1952 as an agency of [[DoD]] by secret Executive Order. For decades its existence was not made public, and the only extensive public description of its operations were provided in the book, ''The Puzzle Palace,''<ref>James Bamford, The Puzzle Palace (1983).</ref> which the agency tried to prevent from being published. |
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| + | [[National Security Decision Directive 145]] ([[NSDD 145]]), the [[Computer Security Act of 1987]], and the mid-1990 revision of [[NSDD 145]] (resulting in [[NSD 42]]) have progressively restricted NSA to an emphasis on defense systems, leaving civilian (notably civil government) [[system security]] concerns to [[NIST]]. Partly as a result of the changing policy context, NSA has moved to diminish its interaction with commercial organizations, most notably by scaling back the [[NCSC]]. |
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== National Security Agency/Central Security Service == |
== National Security Agency/Central Security Service == |
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Revision as of 08:32, 3 July 2011
Overview
The National Security Agency was created in 1952 as an agency of DoD by secret Executive Order. For decades its existence was not made public, and the only extensive public description of its operations were provided in the book, The Puzzle Palace,[1] which the agency tried to prevent from being published.
National Security Decision Directive 145 (NSDD 145), the Computer Security Act of 1987, and the mid-1990 revision of NSDD 145 (resulting in NSD 42) have progressively restricted NSA to an emphasis on defense systems, leaving civilian (notably civil government) system security concerns to NIST. Partly as a result of the changing policy context, NSA has moved to diminish its interaction with commercial organizations, most notably by scaling back the NCSC.
National Security Agency/Central Security Service
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) has provided timely information to U.S. decision makers and military leaders for more than half a century. The Central Security Service was established in 1972 to promote a full partnership between NSA and the cryptologic elements of the armed forces.
NSA/CSS is unique among the U.S. defense agencies because of its government-wide responsibilities. NSA/CSS provides products and services to the Department of Defense, the Intelligence Community, government agencies, industry partners, and select allies and coalition partners. In addition, it delivers critical strategic and tactical information to war planners and war fighters.
NSA/CSS is a key member of the U.S. Intelligence Community and, by its very nature, requires a high degree of confidentiality. Its Information Assurance mission confronts the formidable challenge of preventing foreign adversaries from gaining access to sensitive or classified national security information. Its Signals Intelligence mission collects, processes, and disseminates intelligence information from foreign signals for intelligence and counterintelligence purposes and to support military operations. The Agency also enables Network Warfare operations to defeat terrorists and their organizations at home and abroad, consistent with U.S. laws and the protection of privacy and civil liberties.
References
- ↑ James Bamford, The Puzzle Palace (1983).