Interagency Security Committee Standards and Best Practices

Government users with a need to know may access the Interagency Security Committee standards that are For Official Use Only (FOUO). To request access, please send an e-mail to ISC@DHS.gov with your full name and contact information including e-mail, the name of your agency, and the reason you need access.

Standards

Standards

2009/Use of Physical Security Performance Measures: (PDF, 16 pages - 631 KB) New ISC policy requires all federal agencies to assess and document the effectiveness of their physical security programs through performance measurement and testing. This standard provides guidance on how to establish and implement a comprehensive measurement and testing program.

2008/Facility Security Levels Determinations (FOUO): Defines the criteria and process to be used in determining the facility security level of a federal facility, a categorization that then serves as the basis for implementing ISC standards.

2005/Security Standards for Leased Spaces (FOUO): Establishes distinct standards for leased locations for facility security levels (FSL) I-IV.

2004/Security Design Criteria for New Federal Office Buildings and Major Modernization Projects (FOUO): Developed to ensure that security becomes an integral part of the planning, design and construction of all new federal courthouses, new federal office buildings and major modernization projects. These criteria address security in all building systems and elements.

Best Practices

2007/ISC Best Practices for Safe Mail Handling: (PDF, 16 pages - 831 KB) Identifies best mail room operations practices used by federal agencies and assists security managers to implement safe mail handling practices at their facilities.

2003/ISC Guidance on Escape Hoods.   Decommissioned/May 2009.

Additional Resources

Executive Order

• Executive Order 12977, Interagency Security Committee, October 19, 1995
• Executive Order 13286, Amendment of Executive Orders, and Other Actions, in Connection With the Transfer of Certain Functions to the Secretary of Homeland Security, February 28, 2003

Delegations

• Department of Homeland Security, Delegation Number: 7035.1, 02/01/2005, Delegation of the Chair of the Interagency Security Committee to the Chief Security Officer (PDF, 5 pages - 75 KB)
• Department of Homeland Security, Delegation Number: 7035.2, 08/15/2007, Delegation of the Chair of the Interagency Security Committee to the Assistant Secretary of Infrastructure Protection (PDF, 2 pages - 35 KB)

Homeland Security Presidential Directives

• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7, Critical Infrastructure Identification, Prioritization, and Protection, December 17, 2003
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12, Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors, August 27, 2004
• Homeland Security Presidential Directive 20, National Continuity Policy, May 4, 2007