Controlled Cryptographic Item
Encyclopedia
A Controlled Cryptographic Item (CCI) is a U.S.
National Security Agency
term for secure telecommunications or information handling equipment, associated cryptographic
component or other hardware item which performs a critical COMSEC function. Items so designated may be unclassified but are subject to special accounting controls and required markings.
Part of the physical security protection given to COMSEC equipment and material is afforded by its special handling and accounting. (CCI) equipment must be controlled in a manner that affords protection at lest equal to that normally provided other high value equipment, such as money, PC, and privacy-act-information. There are two separate channels used for the handling of such equipment and materials: "the COMSEC channel" and "the administrative channel." The COMSEC channel, called the COMSEC Material Control System, is used to distribute accountable COMSEC items such as classified
and CCI equipment, keying material
, and maintenance manuals (Some military departments have been authorized to distribute CCI equipment through their standard logistics
system). This channel is composed of a series of COMSEC accounts, each of which has an appointed COMSEC Custodian who is personally responsible and accountable for all COMSEC materials charged to his/her account. The COMSEC Custodian assumes accountability for the equipment or material upon receipt, then controls its dissemination to authorized individuals on job requirements and a need-to-know basis. The administrative channel is used to distribute COMSEC information other than that which is accountable in the COMSEC Material Control System.
Persons with access to COMSEC materials are asked, among other restrictions, to avoid unapproved travel to any countries which are adversaries of the United States, or their establishments or facilities within the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Security Agency
National Security Agency
The National Security Agency/Central Security Service is a cryptologic intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for the collection and analysis of foreign communications and foreign signals intelligence, as well as protecting U.S...
term for secure telecommunications or information handling equipment, associated cryptographic
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
component or other hardware item which performs a critical COMSEC function. Items so designated may be unclassified but are subject to special accounting controls and required markings.
Part of the physical security protection given to COMSEC equipment and material is afforded by its special handling and accounting. (CCI) equipment must be controlled in a manner that affords protection at lest equal to that normally provided other high value equipment, such as money, PC, and privacy-act-information. There are two separate channels used for the handling of such equipment and materials: "the COMSEC channel" and "the administrative channel." The COMSEC channel, called the COMSEC Material Control System, is used to distribute accountable COMSEC items such as classified
Classified information
Classified information is sensitive information to which access is restricted by law or regulation to particular groups of persons. A formal security clearance is required to handle classified documents or access classified data. The clearance process requires a satisfactory background investigation...
and CCI equipment, keying material
Key (cryptography)
In cryptography, a key is a piece of information that determines the functional output of a cryptographic algorithm or cipher. Without a key, the algorithm would produce no useful result. In encryption, a key specifies the particular transformation of plaintext into ciphertext, or vice versa...
, and maintenance manuals (Some military departments have been authorized to distribute CCI equipment through their standard logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
system). This channel is composed of a series of COMSEC accounts, each of which has an appointed COMSEC Custodian who is personally responsible and accountable for all COMSEC materials charged to his/her account. The COMSEC Custodian assumes accountability for the equipment or material upon receipt, then controls its dissemination to authorized individuals on job requirements and a need-to-know basis. The administrative channel is used to distribute COMSEC information other than that which is accountable in the COMSEC Material Control System.
Persons with access to COMSEC materials are asked, among other restrictions, to avoid unapproved travel to any countries which are adversaries of the United States, or their establishments or facilities within the U.S.