National Security Authority
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| National Security Authority | |
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| Type | Government agency |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Headquarters | Oslo, Norway |
| Area served |  Norway |
| Industry | Intelligence agency |
| Parent | Norwegian Ministry of Justice and the Police |
National Security Authority (NSM) (Norwegian: Nasjonal sikkerhetsmyndighet) is a Norwegian intelligence agency at the level of government agency (Direktorat) established on January 1, 2003 as one of two newly established organizations to take over the responsibilities of the defunct Forsvarets sikkerhetsstab (FO/S), the other being Forsvarets sikkerhetsavdeling (FSA). It is responsible for proactive national security, identifying national objects of special interest (like the national oil company Statoil) and reducing their vulnerability to internal and external threats. The agency performs threat analysis on physical objects of national interest, and is also known to work with experts on computer security and data encryption. The cooperation with the Police Security Agency (PST) and the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS) has been identified as a very important part of the task of maintaining an overview of potential threats to objects, and instituting proactive activities.
NSM also cooperates with the Directorate for Civil Protection and Emergency Planning (DSB), intended to prevent loss of life and maintain health, environment, important society functions, and material assets in connection with accidents, catastrophes, terrorism and other unwanted events in peace, crisis and war.
NSM is funded by the Ministry of Defense, but reports to the Ministry of Justice and the Police in civilian matters.
Contents |
[edit] Organizational structure
NSM is currently (as of March 29, 2007) organized in four technical/specialized departments and two administrative/support departments:
[edit] Tasks
[edit] Legal/political fundament
- Security Act
- Defence Secrets Act
- Defence Inventions Act
- Arrangement on certification of information systems and products (SERTIT)
- Coordinating role in preventative work and responses against IT security breaches aimed at vital infrastructure in Norway. (NorCERT)
[edit] Security Act
NSM have following responsibilities regarding the Security Act:
- Gathering and analyzing of information relevant for protective security services
- Information, advice and guidance
- Oversight and Inspections
- Development of security measures (R&D when needed)
- National and international cooperation
- Monitoring of information systems
- Technical Security Counter Measures (TSCM)
- Production and accounting of CRYPTO-material
- Central Personnel and Facility Security Clearance Registry
- Body of Appeal when Security Clearance is denied
[edit] External links
| Norwegian Security Services | |
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| Police Security Agency | Its mission is to detect and identify potential national security threats, analyse their presumed intentions and capabilities, and actively hinder its work. |
| National Security Authority | Its mission is to detect and identify objects of strategic national interest, and reduce their vulnerability. |
| Intelligence Service | Its mission is to collect, analyse and present information from agents and foreign sources that can assist the National Security Authority and the Police Security Agency in achieving their objectives. |
