On behalf of the Secretary of Defense, the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) serves as the Cognizant Security Office providing oversight to approximately 10,000 cleared U.S. companies under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP). DCSA ensures the sensitive and classified U.S. Government and foreign government information, technologies, and material entrusted to cleared industry is properly protected.

DCSA’s Industrial Security Directorate (ISD) mission supports the agency's overarching mission to protect national security by clearing industrial facilities, personnel, and associated information systems (approximately 10,000 cleared companies and 12,500 cleared facilities). DCSA serves as the primary interface between the Federal Government and industry, providing daily oversight, advice, and assistance to cleared companies and ultimately determining the ability of those companies to protect classified information. DCSA also plays a significant role in identifying potential threats and intrusions by adversaries on industry information technology systems and working with industry to develop solutions.

ISD works hand-in-hand with DCSA’s Counterintelligence program to identify and stop attempts by our nation's adversaries to steal sensitive national security information and technologies from cleared industry and to keep U.S. Government leaders informed of the threat.

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What is ISD?

DCSA is responsible for inspecting and monitoring companies that require access to (and generate) classified information, controlled unclassified information, and key data in order to produce critical technology for the Department of Defense. Without security safeguards, critical technology can end up in the hands of our adversaries, eroding our nation's military and economic competitive advantages.