National Security Agency (NSA)
Overview of the National Security Agency
The National Security Agency (NSA) is a cryptology intelligence agency of the United States Government.
The NSA is 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 (NSA) 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.
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As of 2008, the National Security Agency 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. |
