National Industrial Security Program

The National Industrial Security Program (NISP) is a partnership between the federal government and private industry to safeguard classified information.

Executive Order 12829, as amended, “National Industrial Security Program”, further amended by Section 6 of  E.O. 13691, was established to achieve cost savings and to ensure that industry safeguards the classified information with which it is entrusted while performing work on contracts, programs, bids, or research and development efforts while working for United States Government. The Order also calls for a single, integrated, cohesive system for safeguarding classified information in industry. Consistent with the goal of achieving greater uniformity in security requirements for classified contracts, the four major tenets of the NISP are:

1. Achieving uniformity in security procedures.
2. Implementing the reciprocity principle in security procedures, particularly with regard to facility and personnel clearances.
3. Eliminating duplicative or unnecessary requirements, particularly agency inspections.
4. Achieving reductions in security costs.

The NISP affects all executive branch agencies. The major signatories of the program are the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Industrial Security Oversight

The Industrial Security Oversight Certification (ISOC) is ideal for DoD, Industry, and federal members under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). Candidates must be conferred the Security Fundamentals Professional Certification (SFPC). The ISOC was accredited by NCCA in November 2017.

The ISOC assesses foundational knowledge in the following competencies:

• Industrial Security Basics
• Security Reviews and Inspections
• Security Systems and Requirements