National Security Agency

Definition/Scope: (JP 2-0) The National Security Agency is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States government, administered as part of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, which involves a significant amount of cryptanalysis. It is also responsible for protecting U.S. government communications and information systems from similar agencies elsewhere, which involves a significant amount of cryptography. The NSA has recently been directed to help monitor U.S. federal agency computer networks to protect them against attacks. NSA’s work is limited to communications intelligence and not field or human intelligence activities. By law the NSA’s intelligence gathering is limited to foreign communications, but its work includes some domestic surveillance. The mission of the National Security Agency/ Central Security Service is to lead the defense community in delivering responsive, reliable, effective, and expert Signals Intelligence and Information Assurance products and services, and enables Network Warfare operations to gain a decisive information advantage for the Nation and our allies under all circumstances.

Used For:

National Security Agency/Central Security Service
Protection WFF

Acronym:

NSA

Broader Terms:

Department of Defense
DoD support agencies
Executive Order 12333
Executive Order 13470
Fourth Amendment
INSCOM
Intelligence Community
National Intelligence Support Team

Narrower Terms:

Data Encryption Standard
Information Assurance Directorate
Signals Intelligence Directorate

Related Terms:

Central Intelligence Agency
civilian organization
combat support agency
counterintelligence
Defense Department
Defense Intelligence Agency
Defense Joint Intelligence Operations Center
Department of Energy
Department of Homeland Security
Director of National Intelligence
Drug Enforcement Administration
foreign intelligence
Fourth Amendment
Global Information Grid
intelligence collection management
Justice Department
National Counterproliferation Center
National Counterterrorism Center
National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
National Reconnaissance Office
NCPC
State Department
Treasury Department
US Coast Guard