OMB Approves NISPOM Interim Final Rule

Yesterday the OMB’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) announced that it had approved the DOD’s National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) interim final rule. This rulemaking was submitted to ORIA back in August.

According to the Spring 2020 Unified Agenda entry for this rulemaking:

“This rule will codify the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM) which prescribes specific requirements, restrictions, and other safeguards that are necessary to preclude unauthorized disclosure and control authorized disclosure of Federal Government classified information to contractors, licensees, or grantees. The NISPOM applies to the release of classified information during all phases of the contracting process, including bidding, negotiation, award, performance, and termination of contractors, the licensing process or the grant process, with or under the control of departments or agencies.”

Again, I am not intending to delve deeply into the DOD’s Industrial Security Program. I am highlighting this rulemaking because this manual is going to be a good guide to information security requirements for anyone that wants to gain routine access to classified information, for example government cyber-threat intel.