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CNSS Training and Education Standards

Under Executive Order (E.O.) 13231* of October 16, 2001, Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Information Age, the President has re-designated the National Security Telecommunications and Information Systems Security Committee (NSTISSC) as the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). The Department of Defense continues to chair the committee under the authorities established by NSD-42*. As a standing committee of the President's Critical Infrastructure Protection Board, the CNSS reports fully and regularly on its activities to the Board. The EO directs the protection of information systems for critical infrastructure, including emergency preparedness communications, and the physical assets that support such systems. The Secretary of Defense and the Director of Central Intelligence are responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of government-wide policies, principles, standards, and guidelines for the security of systems with national security information. The CNSS provides a forum for the discussion of policy issues, sets national policy, and promulgates direction, operational procedures, and guidance for the security of national security systems through the CNSS Issuance System. National security systems contain classified information or:

• involve intelligence activities;
• involve cryptographic activities related to national security;
• involve command and control of military forces;
• involve equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system (is critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions (not including routine administrative and business applications); or
• are critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions (not including routine administrative and business applications).