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Security Clearance

What is Security Clearance?

An authorisation granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information after completing a background investigation. Security clearance levels typically include Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.

Compliance

Each of these is named in at least one of the same controls as security clearance. The number is how many controls name both.

What the standards actually require on security clearance

Requirements naming security clearance across 6 standards, quoted from the control text.

Entities must manage clearances actively, including timely revalidation, transfer or sharing of clearances, and revocation when an individual no longer requires or warrants the clearance.

PSPF-2024-POL-11 · Policy 11: Managing security clearances

Where access to security classified information is required, the entity must sponsor and maintain personnel security clearances through the Australian Government Security Vetting Agency (AGSVA) at the appropriate level.

DISP-PERS-CLEARANCE · Security clearances (AGSVA sponsorship)

Personnel requiring access to classified information or assets must hold and maintain an appropriate security clearance.

DSPF-P40 · Personnel security clearance
FedRAMP High1 control

Maintenance Personnel | Individuals Without Appropriate Access. The organization: (a) Implements procedures for the use of maintenance personnel that lack appropriate security clearances or are not U.S. citizens, that include the following requirements: (1)

MA-5(1) · Maintenance Personnel | Individuals Without Appropriate Access. The organization: (a) Implements procedures for the use of maintenance personnel that lack appropriate security clearances or are not U.S. citizens, that include the following requirements: (1)

Maintenance Personnel | Individuals Without Appropriate Access. The organization: (a) Implements procedures for the use of maintenance personnel that lack appropriate security clearances or are not U.S. citizens, that include the following requirements: (1)

MA-5(1) · Maintenance Personnel | Individuals Without Appropriate Access. The organization: (a) Implements procedures for the use of maintenance personnel that lack appropriate security clearances or are not U.S. citizens, that include the following requirements: (1)

Maintain personnel security clearances per AC/35-D/2000 NATO Personnel Security Policy (CONFIDENTIAL/SECRET/COSMIC TOP SECRET investigations + reinvestigations every 5 years + continuous evaluation). Verify need-to-know and need-to-share controls.

NATO-NCIRC-7 · Personnel Security Clearances and Cyber Exercises

Questions people ask about security clearance

What is Security Clearance?
An authorisation granted to individuals allowing them access to classified information after completing a background investigation. Security clearance levels typically include Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.
Why is Security Clearance important for compliance?
Security Clearance is a key concept in Compliance. Understanding security clearance helps organizations meet regulatory requirements, reduce risk, and demonstrate due diligence during audits. Our compliance platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings.
Which compliance frameworks address Security Clearance?
Security Clearance appears in the requirement text of Protective Security Policy Framework (PSPF) Release 2024, Defence Industry Security Program (DISP), Defence Security Principles Framework (DSPF), FedRAMP High, FedRAMP Moderate. Across these standards we have identified 8 controls that name it directly, each linked to the control text on the compliance platform.
Where can I learn more about Security Clearance?
Explore our compliance framework pages to see how security clearance applies across different standards and regulations. Our implementation guides provide step-by-step guidance, and the compliance platform offers AI-powered analysis of how this concept maps across 686 frameworks.

See how Security Clearance applies across compliance frameworks

Our platform maps 686 frameworks with 311K cross-framework control mappings. Explore how this concept is addressed across standards.

Written and maintained by Gerard Blokdyk, The Art of Service.