Which agency has been designated as the Cognizant Security Office (CSO) for the Department of Defense and more than thirty other non‑DOD agencies?

Which agency has been designated as the Cognizant Security Office (CSO) for the Department of Defense and more than thirty other non‑DOD agencies?

• A. Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA)
• B. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA)
• C. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
• D. National Security Agency (NSA)

Answer: (A)

A Cognizant Security Office is the central point that handles security clearances and safeguarding classified information for contractors and for multiple agencies. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is the designated CSO for the Department of Defense and more than thirty other non‑DOD agencies, so it provides a consistent, centralized approach to industrial security and personnel investigations across those organizations. This centralization helps standardize how facility clearances are granted and how background investigations are conducted, reducing duplication and ensuring uniform security practices. The other agencies listed—CIA, FBI, and NSA—have their own internal security structures tied to their respective organizations. They are not designated as the CSO for DoD and a broad set of non‑DoD agencies.

A Cognizant Security Office is the central point that handles security clearances and safeguarding classified information for contractors and for multiple agencies. The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency is the designated CSO for the Department of Defense and more than thirty other non‑DOD agencies, so it provides a consistent, centralized approach to industrial security and personnel investigations across those organizations. This centralization helps standardize how facility clearances are granted and how background investigations are conducted, reducing duplication and ensuring uniform security practices.

The other agencies listed—CIA, FBI, and NSA—have their own internal security structures tied to their respective organizations. They are not designated as the CSO for DoD and a broad set of non‑DoD agencies.