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DoD Directive 8570.1

In today’s environment of emerging security threats, the U.S. Department of Defense has recognized the critical need for highly-qualified, experienced information assurance personnel. To ensure a knowledgeable and skilled workforce the DoD has taken the necessary steps to develop a directive that involves the credentialing and continuing education of all DoD employees with privileged access to DoD information systems. For additional information, refer to the DoD Fact Sheet.

Specifically, the U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570.1, signed in August of 2004, requires every full- and part-time military service member, defense contractor, civilian and foreign employee with privileged access to a DoD system, regardless of job series or occupational specialty, to obtain a commercial certification credential that has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

The draft manual, 8570.1M, specifies that the Department of Defense requires approximately 110,000 identified Information Assurance professionals to be certified within a five year time period. The Defense Information Assurance Program office has divided its Information Assurance workforce into six defined categories (see chart below). The manual also specifies the types of commercial information assurance credentials that qualify for each of the defined categories.

The above chart was provided by the Defense Information Assurance Program (DIAP) Office. As of June 2005, the certifications shown above are the only commercial certifications DoD will accept as fulfillment for the 8570.1M requirement.

CISSP is the first certification to earn the stringent requirements of the ANSI accreditation to ISO/IEC Standard 17024. The SSCP certification has recently met these requirements and has been approved by ANSI to the ISO/IEC Standard 17024.

DoD is recognized as the vanguard of government security needs identification and requirements policymaking. This directive, and the department’s endorsement of commercial certifications, represents welcome, progressive reform. Other government agencies, federally regulated industries, and commercial institutions doing business with the U.S. Government are certain to take notice and follow suit.
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