The Office of Security Information Security Division (ISD) is responsible for providing and ensuring compliance with several types of briefings and training to Department of Commerce employees, contractors, and affiliates who are granted access to Classified National Security Information (CNSI).

Executive Order 13526 and 32 CFR part 2001 and 2003 provide the guidelines for required classification management training. All personnel working with CNSI are required to receive and maintain an active security clearance. A clearance for access to CNSI is activated after initial CNSI training with the signed SF-312 Classified Nondisclosure Agreement. CNSI Training is required annually and is offered on the Commerce Learning Center as well as in person with a bureau Field Security Servicing Officer (FSSO)

Clearance activation and refresher trainings are completed through the Commerce Learning Center (CLC): https://doc.csod.com. Personnel without access to CLC may complete the training through the Department web-based intranet: https://connection.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/nsitraining/story.html. A copy of the training certificate must be sent to osy_infosec@doc.gov in order to receive training credit. The intranet training will save neither progress nor certificates. To complete the SF-312, contact your FSSO, or the Department Information Security Division, osy_infosec@doc.gov.

Initial and Annual Refresher Training for Clearance Holders

Initial CNSI and annual refresher training covers:

• Basic security policies in E.O. 13526, Sec. 4.1 / 32 CFR 2001.71(b)
• Principles of classification prohibitions and limitations, E.O. 13526, Sec. 1.7
• Criminal, civil and administrative penalties in E.O. 13526, Sec. 5.5 
• Best Practices, avoiding overclassification or unnecessary withholding of government information, identified through Fundamental Classification Guidance Review in E.O. 13526, Sec. 1.9.

The Department Personnel Security Division completes adjudication of an individual’s clearance investigation report before the ISD, or the FSSO, may schedule clearance activation.

Annual and refresher CNSI training is required to maintain an active collateral security clearance. The initial and refresher CNSI training includes derivative classification responsibilities.

Examples of derivative classification actions include incorporation, paraphrasing, and restating CNSI information. CNSI training helps prevent the loss and unauthorized disclosures of information that may damage the national security of the United States.

CNSI References:

• Information Security Oversight Office Training Aids
• Marking Classified National Security Information (ISOO, 2018)
• Security Training, Education and Professionalization Portal

Security Debriefing

Clearances are delineated by position, not employee; employees separating from the Department for any reason such as retirement, resignation, or transition to another organization must complete a security clearance debriefing. The debriefing requires an endorsement of the Security Debriefing Acknowledgement portion of the SF-312. In addition, moving within Commerce to a position that does not require access to CNSI requires a debriefing. Contact your bureau’s Field Servicing Security Office to schedule a collateral clearance debriefing, or the Department Information Security Division; osy_infosec@doc.gov.

Additional Access Training and Requirements

Additional training and processing are required for access to other information types such Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI), Communications Security (COMSEC), and others. For additional access to these and other specific information types contact the below contacts as listed:

• SCI                 scirequests@doc.gov
• COMSEC      COMSEC@doc.gov
• NATO             OSY_INFOSEC@doc.gov
• Foreign Travel Briefing; foreigntravel@doc.gov