Moving To The Unclassified: How The Intelligence Community Can Work From Unclassified Facilities
Abstract
This report examines how intelligence agencies can conduct more work outside classified facilities by identifying policy, legal, technology, security,financial, and cultural considerations. It further provides steps that intelligence agencies can take to address these considerations and overcome potential challenges. We reviewed studies on telework and telecommuting, examined seven federal agencies that conduct work outside government facilities, and conducted interviews inside the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency. Intelligence agencies could benefit from conducting some unclassified functions outside Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIFs), with each agency differing in terms of which functions would be most appropriate to move to unclassified facilities. We identified common lessons learned and recommendations for intelligence leaders to consider. Agencies may consider transitioning employees with unclassified job functions who handle unclassified information to unclassified workplaces for several reasons. First, moving employees to unclassified environments increases opportunities to collaborate with external partners in academia, industry, national labs, and elsewhere. This could be done either by moving employees to unclassified computer networks, where they may have greater access to collaboration tools, or by allowing employees to work in geographic locations closer to industry hubs, such as Silicon Valley, or laboratories. Second, increasing the proportion of agency work that can occur on unclassified networks or in unclassified facilities aids continuity of operations during a natural disaster or act of war. Employees who have the tools, resources, and authorities to conduct their jobs remotely are less affected by events that prevent access to agency facilities.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 03, 2018
- Accession Number
- AD1057235
Entities
People
- Abby Schendt
- Arthur Chan
- Cortney Weinbaum
- Karlyn D. Stanley