With The Huffington Post reporting over 4.2 million people holding security clearances in the U.S., many are wondering just what requires a security clearance. Here are three things you would not expect:
BlackBerry Smartphones
BlackBerry smartphones have always been protected with encryption, but this time the smartphones received FIPS security certification before their release. With this certification, many corporate and government officials buying into the BYOD trend may want to consider a BlackBerry smartphone. The phone will not only provide the highest security and data protection, but it also boasts a unique compartmentalized system so that users can easily access (but keep separate) their personal lives and business duties.
A Congressman’s Office
Almost every government office has its own level of security clearance. As About.com’s Rod Powers explains, that means the security clearances don’t transfer from one office to another. If you have Top Secret clearance with the Department of Energy, you don’t also have Top Secret clearance with the Department of Defense. In order to get this security clearance in the first place, you have to pass a background check, answer a detailed questionnaire covering the last five to 10years, and undergo an interview as well as the interview of several references.
Because senators and congressmen are elected, not screened and hired, things work slightly differently. However, the Offices of Senate and House Security handle the security clearance process for politicians and their staff while the FBI undertakes the necessary clearance investigations. All these clearances culminate into the 4.2 million people cited earlier. The number is much higher than anyone anticipated when the results came out in 2011. Wondering about the reason for the growing number? Analysts suggest it might be caused by rising government secrecy as well as a streamlined clearance process.
Electrical Utilities
While most people think of spies and top government officials when they think of security clearances, many people need some form of security clearance to simply complete their job as a civilian. Have you ever needed security clearance?
Resources:
http://www.informationweek.com/government/mobile/rim-blackberry-10-gets-government-securi/240062640
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-workplace-confidentiality.htm
http://www.clearancejobs.com/cleared-news/650/do-members-of-congress-have-security-clearances
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/security_2.htm
About The Author
Shaun Chatman is a freelance writer by night and a gym trainer in the day. Happily married and a father of two gregarious kids, Shaun lives in Dunedin, FL, and spends his free time playing with his kids or watching or playing sports. You can connect with him here.
