What is a SCIF?

The Definition

A Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (pronounced “skiff”) is a secure room or data center that guards against electronic surveillance and suppresses data leakage of sensitive military and security information.

SCIFs deny unauthorized personnel — foreign intelligence services, corporate spies, and others — the opportunity for undetected entry into facilities for the exploitation of sensitive activities.

Properly constructed SCIFs protect against compromising emanations, inadvertent observation and disclosure, and physical breach. They are the foundation of how the U.S. and allied governments handle classified information at the SCI level.

Glossary

The SCIF industry is full of acronyms. Here are the most important ones you’ll encounter when scoping a project.

Access Control System.

Contiguous or Continental United States — the 48 U.S. states south of Canada and north of Mexico, plus the District of Columbia.

Cognizant Security Authority.

Construction Security Plan — a plan outlining security protective measures applied to each phase of the construction project.

Director of Central Intelligence Directive 6/9 — predecessor to ICD 705 for SCIF construction.

Fixed Facility Checklist — required documentation for SCIF accreditation.

Facility Security Officer. Usually responsible for facility security at government buildings — including verifying access rights of anyone entering the property.

Intelligence Community Directive 705 (Version 1.5.1) — the most current directives governing SCIF construction and management.

Intrusion Detection System. Monitors for intrusion attempts, suspicious activities, and policy violations, and produces reports to designated recipients.

Outside the Contiguous or Continental United States.

Special Access Program Facility — an accredited area where SAP material may be stored, used, discussed, and electronically processed.

Security In Depth documentation — describes layers of protection at a site (fencing, guards, CCTV coverage, controlled access buffers).

Special Security Officer. Assists in management and installation of security programs at specific locations.

A codename referring to investigations and studies of compromising emissions — unintentional intelligence-bearing signals that could disclose classified information if intercepted. Often used broadly for the entire field of Emission Security (EMSEC).