The Interagency Security Committee’s (ISC) mandate is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of security in and the protection of buildings and nonmilitary federal facilities in the United States. All nonmilitary federal facilities in the United States will implement ISC standards regardless if the facility:
- Is government-owned, leased, or managed.
- Will be constructed or modernized.
- Will be purchased.
Compliance with ISC standards and policies will be measured by The Interagency Security Committee Agency and Facility Compliance Benchmarks (FOUO). To request access, please send an email to ISCAccess@hq.dhs.gov with your full name and contact information, including email, agency name, and reason for access to this document.
ISC standards and best practices can be used to help federal security professionals implement security policies and mandatory standards. The ISC reviews and updates its products on a regular basis. Please be sure you are using the correct version, as some of the previous documents may have been superseded.
Policies
November 2015/2nd Edition – Planning and Response to an Active Shooter: An Interagency Security Committee Policy and Best Practices Guide
This second edition of the Planning and Response to an Active Shooter: An Interagency Security Committee Policy and Best Practices Guide removes the FOUO material from the first edition released in July 2015 so that this guidance can be distributed to the public.
July 2015/1st Edition – Planning and Response to an Active Shooter: An Interagency Security Committee Policy and Best Practices Guide (FOUO)
This publication is divided into two parts:
- An outline for a new policy requirement for all nonmilitary federal facilities within the Executive Branch of the government.
- A set of best practices and recommendations to assist with implementing the active shooter policy.
Due to the nature of an active shooter event, this document contains guidance for all who might be involved, including law enforcement agencies, facility tenants, and the public.
Users with a need-to-know may access this standard. To request access, please send an e-mail to ISCAccess@hq.dhs.gov with your full name and contact information, including email, agency name, and reason for access.
Standards
2021 Edition - The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard (RMP)
The Risk Management Process (RMP) for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard defines the criteria and processes that those responsible for a facility’s security should use to determine its Facility Security Level (FSL). This Interagency Security Committee (ISC) standard provides an integrated, single source of physical security countermeasures and guidance on countermeasure customization for all nonmilitary federal facilities.
This standard incorporates the following appendices:
- Appendix A: The Design-Basis Threat Report (For Official Use Only - FOUO)
- Appendix B: Countermeasures (For Official Use Only - FOUO)
- Appendix C: Child-Care Center Level of Protection Template (For Official Use Only - FOUO)
2020 Edition – The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities, Appendix A: Design-Basis Threat Report (DBT) (For Official Use Only - FOUO):
This ISC report creates a profile of the type, composition, and capabilities of adversaries while addressing the possible Undesirable Events (UEs) associated with Federal facility security. This report correlates with countermeasures in The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard.
Users with a need-to-know may access this standard. To request access, please send an e-mail to ISCAccess@hq.dhs.gov with your full name and contact information, including email, agency name, and reason for access.
2020 Edition – The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities, Appendix B: Countermeasures (For Official Use Only - FOUO):
This ISC document establishes set of physical security countermeasure to be applied to all Federal facilities based on the determined Level of Protection (LOP). It correlates to Appendix A: Design-Basis Threat Report of The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard.
Users with a need-to-know may access this standard. To request access, please send an e-mail to ISCAccess@hq.dhs.gov with your full name and contact information, including email, agency name, and reason for access.
2020 Edition – The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities, Appendix C: Child-Care Centers Level of Protection Template (For Official Use Only - FOUO):
This ISC Level of Protection (LOP) Template specifies the customized LOP to be incorporated as the basis for security planning for a child-care center. This template was prepared in accordance with the process and criteria set forth in Appendix B: Countermeasures of The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard.
Users with a need-to-know may access this standard. To request access, please send an e-mail to ISCAccess@hq.dhs.gov with your full name and contact information, including email, agency name, and reason for access.
The subsequent standards and guidance have been superseded by the Risk Management Process Standard:
- March 2008/1st Edition - Facility Security Level Determinations for Federal Facilities: An ISC Standard
- June 2009/1st Edition - Use of Physical Security Performance Measures
- April 2010/1st Edition - Physical Security Criteria for Federal Facilities: An ISC Standard
- January 2012/2nd Edition - Facility Security Committees: An Interagency Security Committee Standard
- November 2016/2nd Edition – The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard
February 2013/1st Edition – Items Prohibited from Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard
Items Prohibited from Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard establishes a guideline process for establishing control of prohibited items into federal facilities and identifies how to deny entry to those individuals who attempt to enter with such items.
Best Practices
2020 Edition - Protecting Against the Threat of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS): An Interagency Security Committee Best Practice
This UAS document provides guidance for federal Executive Branch departments and agencies regarding best practices, lessons learned, and recommendations to protect against the threat of malicious unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) operations.
2020 Edition - Facility Access Control: An Interagency Security Committee Best Practice
The Facility Access Control document is an authoritative guide to help federal departments and agencies better understand their obligations and requirements relating to common access to facilities.
2019 Edition - Armed Contract Security Officers in Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Best Practice (ACSO)
The Best Practices for Armed Contract Security Officers in Federal Facilities from the ISC recommends a set of minimum standards to be applied to all armed contract security officers assigned to U.S. buildings and facilities occupied by federal employees for nonmilitary activities.
September 2016/1st Edition – Best Practices for Security Office Staffing in Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
The Best Practices for Security Office Staffing in Federal Facilities provides baseline recommendations to federal agencies by outlining basic security activities associated with implementing a Security Office staffing plan, incorporating lessons learned, and defining key staffing requirements. Furthermore, the document assists agencies in establishing criteria and policies that will ensure greater consistency in staffing a Security Office for nonmilitary, federally owned or leased facilities.
December 2015/1st Edition – Best Practices for Planning and Managing Physical Security Resources: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
The Best Practices for Planning and Managing Physical Security Resources is a guide intended to provide an introduction and understanding of the most efficient processes and procedures to effectively allocate resources to implement physical security programs within federal departments and agencies. Furthermore, it is meant to assist federal agencies with the application of best management practices to support budget-conscious allocation of physical security resources across an agency's portfolio of facilities.
December 2015/1st Edition – Best Practices and Key Considerations for Enhancing Federal Facility Security and Resilience to Climate-Related Hazards
The Best Practices and Key Considerations for Enhancing Federal Facility Security and Resilience to Climate-Related Hazards presents a set of recommendations to reinforce strong partnerships, enhance security coordination, and provide accessible information and tools to help decision makers develop strategies to prepare for a changing climate. These efforts will assist in reducing extreme weather impacts and other climate risks that affect federal facilities' security operations and building integrity.
November 2014/1st Edition – Best Practices for Working with Lessors: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
Best Practices for Working with Lessors: An Interagency Security Committee Guide provides a framework for federal agencies working with lessors to identify required security countermeasures early in the leasing process and to implement those measures in a risk-based approach before finalizing the lease agreement.
September 2012/1st Edition – Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office, Technical Support Working Group (CTTSO TSWG)/ISC – Best Practices for Managing Mail Screening and Handling Processes: A Guide for the Public and Private Sectors (NON-FOUO)
Best Practices for Managing Mail Screening and Handling Processes: A Guide for the Public and Private Sectors is a non-FOUO guide that provides mail center managers, their supervisors, and agency security personnel with a framework for understanding and mitigating risks posed to an organization that receives and delivers mail and packages. The original version of this document was produced with restricted dissemination and was only available to federal government agencies. The Interagency Security Committee has modified this document to be fully releasable to private individuals and organizations.
September 2011/1st Edition – Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office, Technical Support Working Group (CTTSO TSWG)/ISC – Best Practices for Mail Screening and Handling (FOUO)
This is a guide that provides mail center managers, their supervisors, and agency security personnel with a framework for understanding and mitigating risks posed to an organization by its received and delivered mail and packages.
Users with a need-to-know may access this guide. To request access, please send an e-mail to ISCAccess@hq.dhs.gov with your full name and contact information, including e-mail, agency name, and reason for access.
Guidance Documents
2019 Edition – Violence in the Federal Workplace: A Guide for Prevention and Response
Violence in the Federal Workplace: A Guide for Prevention and Response provide guidance on how agencies can develop a workplace violence program capable of preparing for, preventing, and responding to incidents of workplace violence.
2019 Edition – REAL ID Act of 2005 Implementation: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
The REAL ID Act of 2005 Implementation: An Interagency Security Committee Guide details the purpose and background of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (the Act), and outlines the phased implementation schedule for enforcement. The guide also contains options in accordance with the Act for creating access control procedures, communicating those procedures, and establishing alternate access control procedures if necessary. The guide's appendices reference information on the Act, a list of acceptable forms of identification, visual references for acceptable forms of identification, and a flow chart aid for developing access control procedures.
January 2017/2nd Edition – Security Specialist Competencies: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
The Security Specialist Competencies establishes a common baseline of knowledge and abilities for training and professional development so that security specialists in any given agency can become proficient to a unified, minimum capability.
February 2015/1st Edition – Facility Security Plan: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
The Facility Security Plan: An Interagency Security Committee Guide was created to provide guidance for agencies housed in nonmilitary federal facilities to formulate and ultimately implement an effective Facility Security Plan (FSP). This guide identifies key elements of an FSP that meet the requirements outlined in The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard, Appendix B: Countermeasures.
March 2013/1st Edition – Occupant Emergency Programs: An Interagency Security Committee Guide
Occupant Emergency Programs: An Interagency Security Committee Guide assists department and agency security planners in developing and reviewing Occupant Emergency Programs for the safety and security of employees and visitors at nonmilitary federal facilities.
White Papers
January 2017/1st Edition – Federal Mobile Workplace Security: An Interagency Security Committee White Paper
The Federal Mobile Workplace Security White Paper defines key terms, identifies existing policy and security planning considerations, and outlines expected behaviors when implementing mobile federal workplace solutions.
February 2015/1st Edition – Presidential Policy Directive 21 Implementation: An Interagency Security Committee White Paper
The Presidential Policy Directive 21 Implementation: An Interagency Security Committee White Paper provides a current assessment of issues addressed in Presidential Policy Directive 21 (PPD-21), which affirmed the federal government’s responsibility to strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructure against threats and address cyber threats in relation to physical security measures for federal facilities. The PPD-21 Working Group analyzed The Risk Management Process for Federal Facilities: An Interagency Security Committee Standard to identify any issues that could potentially create vulnerabilities and obstacles to security and resilience efforts for federal critical infrastructure supporting primary mission essential functions in an all-hazards environment.
February 2015/1st Edition – Securing Government Assets through Combined Traditional Security and Information Technology: An Interagency Security Committee White Paper
To facilitate an understanding of the necessary interaction between traditional security and information technology communities, the Interagency Security Committee Convergence Subcommittee developed the recommendations contained in the Securing Government Assets through Combined Traditional Security and Information Technology: An Interagency Security Committee White Paper to provide traditional security and IT professionals with mechanisms to support security programs while integrating information assurance management controls.
ISC Annual Report
2020 ISC Annual Report
The Interagency Security Committee (ISC) 2020 Annual Report highlights the ISC’s accomplishments and activities in 2020. This includes a range of guidance documents from the traditional to emerging threats; a successful second year of Compliance reporting; and the agility to convert training and outreach efforts to a virtual environment while expanding its reach across the Nation.
Contact Information
Interagency Security Committee
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20528
ATTN: Chief, Interagency Security Committee
E-mail: isc.dhs.gov@hq.dhs.gov