Overview of the National
Security Agency
The National Security Agency / Central Security Service (NSA/CSS) is a
cryptologic intelligence agency of the U.S. Government, administered as
part of the United States Department of Defense. The National Security
Agency was created on November 4, 1952 by President Harry S. Truman.
Responsibilities of the National Security Agency
The National Security
Agency is responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign
communications and foreign signals intelligence, which involves
cryptanalysis. The National Security Agency is also responsible
for protecting U.S. government communications and information systems
from similar agencies elsewhere, which involves cryptography. As of
2008, NSA has been directed to help monitor U.S. federal agency computer
networks to protect them against attacks. The NSA is directed by a
lieutenant general or vice admiral. The NSA is a key component of
the U.S. Intelligence Community, which is headed by the Director of
National Intelligence.
The NSA's work is
limited to
communications
intelligence; it does
not perform field or
human intelligence
activities.
The
Central Security Service (CSS)
The Central Security
Service is a co-located agency created to coordinate intelligence
activities and co-operation between the NSA and U.S. military
cryptanalysis agencies. |
