Key mission 4: Protective security - Build
We worked with national security partners throughout 2019–20 to build their protective security capabilities, including in the following ways.
- We held a two-day security zones briefing1 attended by 144 participants from Australian governments and defence industry. The briefing provided attendees with technical advice on constructing and managing security zones as detailed in the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF), which helped participants to better protect their people, information and assets.
- We provided capability and advice to help government partners maintain their capability to securely deploy assets to overseas environments.
Our assistance focused on environments with high or extreme threat levels, and assets which, if compromised, could cause damage to Australia and its national interests.
- We also continued to conduct Zone 52 inspections, issuing a number of certifications for Australia-based facilities requiring TOP SECRET information and assets, thereby ensuring sustained access to critical information and systems.
2017-18 | 2018-19 | 2019-205 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Physical security certification program | ||||
Zone 5 facilities | Site inspections and reports | 89 | 81 | 42 |
Certifications issued | 60 | 40 | 52 | |
Courier Services | Site inspections and reports | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Endorsements issued | 0 | 8 | 0 | |
Security products evaluated | ||||
Security products evaluated | 71 | 87 | 87 | |
Protective security review | ||||
Protective security risk review reports | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
Communication | ||||
Publications | Protective security circulars | 6 | 1 | 2 |
Security managers guides | 10 | 7 | 8 | |
Security equipment guides | 4 | 1 | 2 | |
Technical note annexes | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Training | Protective security training courses | 4 | 6 | 4 |
Safe maintainer courses | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
SCEC6-approved locksmith courses | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
SCEC-approved consultant briefings | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
5 The downturn in activities requiring travel, meetings and face-to-face interaction (for example, training) was due to physical distancing rules imposed as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic.
6 Security Construction and Equipment Committee
Footnotes
- This briefing was held to capture the backlog of interested parties seeking to attend our five-day Security Zones course. The two-day briefing gave an overview of all concepts (in less detail) provided in the five-day course, and highlighted common pitfalls and important information. The briefing was a triage activity, not a replacement for the course.↩
- The Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework mandates that all Zone 5 facilities in Australia must be certified by ASIO before becoming operational. In some cases, ASIO inspection reports recommend that facility owners introduce additional measures to achieve certification. The difference between the number of inspection reports completed (42) and certifications issued (52) reflects that this work does not align with the same financial year, and that work undertaken by facility owners to implement report recommendations issued in previous years has enabled certification to be issued this financial year.↩
Visit
https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/australian-security-intelligence-organisation/reporting-year/2019-20-43