What does it take to have a window in a SCIF, SAPF, or Closed Area? The benefits of natural light have been written about extensively: It offers necessary vitamin D, can help you sleep better, and can even ward off seasonal depression. However, in a secure facility, letting natural light in through windows creates a security vulnerability that requires extensive mitigation, if it can be allowed … [Read more...] about The Requirements for Windows in a Secure Facility
How Does RF Shielding Effectiveness Testing Work?
An overview of how TEMPEST testing is conducted If you’re constructing a SCIF or SAPF, part of your requirements will include meeting TEMPEST standards for radio frequency (RF) shielding. This is a crucial part of both your facility security and your accreditation. The requirements for these tests are laid out in Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 299, the Standard Method … [Read more...] about How Does RF Shielding Effectiveness Testing Work?
How Does the SCIF Accreditation Process Work?
How to cross the finish line with your SCIF or SAPF project Accreditation is the ultimate end point of SCIF or SAPF construction. The last thing you want is to invest time and money into the construction only to stumble at the finish line and not have your facility accredited by your Accrediting Official (AO). But the process of SCIF accreditation doesn’t begin when you finish your … [Read more...] about How Does the SCIF Accreditation Process Work?
What Would it Take For A SCIF Employee to Work From Home?
The difficulties of getting an at-home SCIF During the pandemic, working from home became commonplace across many industries. However, for those who work with classified, secret or top-secret information in a secure facility, that’s a significantly more complicated prospect. Classified information is accessed and protected in SCIFs and SAPFs, and if an employee wishes to work from home, they’ll … [Read more...] about What Would it Take For A SCIF Employee to Work From Home?
What Are Compartmented Areas?
Types of Comparted Areas, when they’re used and their requirements When more than one classified program intends to operate within a single SCIF or SAPF, Compartmented Areas (CA) become necessary. These are essentially sub-divisions of the facility that can allow you to save on costs by not needing to build multiple facilities. Compartmented areas can be great for contractors who may have … [Read more...] about What Are Compartmented Areas?
What is TEMPEST?
Understand how compromising emanations can impact the security of your SCIF or SAPF When constructing a SCIF or SAPF, there are numerous security concerns you need to address. On top of the more obvious physical and acoustic considerations, you also need to deal with mitigations related to unintentional emanations that could escape your SCIF. These emanations are unintended data-related or … [Read more...] about What is TEMPEST?
Why Reciprocity Matters for SCIF and SAPF Construction
How the ICD 705 policy is helping unify SCIF/SAPF construction standards Reciprocity of standards, where all 18 Intelligence Community (IC) elements follow the same requirements for SCIF and SAPF construction, is one of the stated goals of the Intelligence Community Directive (ICD) 705 policy. Prior to the 705, different IC elements had their own standards for how they wanted their facilities … [Read more...] about Why Reciprocity Matters for SCIF and SAPF Construction
Make the Most of Your Relationship with Your AO
Build a positive relationship with your Accrediting Official (AO) for a smoother SCIF/SAPF project When constructing a SCIF/SAPF, the Accrediting Official (AO) is the most important person you’ll be working with. They decide whether or not your facility receives accreditation, allowing the facility to then house classified information or programs. You don’t want to be someone the AO doesn’t … [Read more...] about Make the Most of Your Relationship with Your AO
Understanding SCIF and SAPF Door Requirements
An overview of the ICD 705 requirements for different types of STC doors in your secure facility Your SCIF perimeter doors are an important barrier of security. They are where your personnel will access your SCIF, and they’re the first layer of your perimeter protection. If they aren’t installed properly, sound or radio frequency emanations can escape your SCIF, or someone could infiltrate your … [Read more...] about Understanding SCIF and SAPF Door Requirements
