Home - Industrial Security Working Group

Mission

ISWG is a motivated, inspired working group that in a forum develops and provides innovative and cost-effective solutions and services in partnership with the Intelligence Community customers.

Vision

To promote and facilitate communications and partnership techniques between Industry and Government.

Membership

Members are currently SCI-cleared security professionals representing companies with SCI contracts with at least one of the Intelligence Community ISWG associated government partner agencies.

PURPOSE

The purpose of the Industrial Security Working Group (ISWG) is to advance the SCI security management profession in support of national level programs by fostering the highest qualities of professionalism among its members (140+ companies/550+ members), and by providing mutual assistance through shared knowledge, collaboration, experience and resources.

SCOPE

Through annual membership meetings and subject-oriented committees, ISWG provides a forum for the exchange of information, practices and procedures used in implementing SCI security programs in industry. This exchange benefits both industry and government. The Board of Directors will provide the government with feedback from meetings and surveys, provide data, and make recommendations for efficient and cost effective SCI industrial security programs. NOTE: ISWG also incorporates guidelines on membership, voting, role of the Board of Directors, committee structure, financial responsibilities, and amendment procedures.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ISWG

ISWG was founded in 1979, when blenders were often used to shred materials, waivers and co-utilizations were not in the Intelligence Community dictionary, and reciprocity was non-existent. The first formal meeting was held in 1981 and a Board of Directors was elected. 1984 was the year that standing committees were established to focus on specific issues. As a result of the Computer Security Committee efforts, that group spun off and became what is now known as the Community Association for Information Systems Security Working Group (CAISSWG).

Liaison with CAISSWG continues today. Three long standing committees have prevailed over the years and continue to be actively engaged. They are the Membership, Personnel Security and Physical/Technical Security Committees. In 2000, four government Focus Groups were added to the original one. These groups meet routinely with their respective government security directors/staffs and are a significant part of ISWG’s support to our partner agencies. Four more Focus Groups have since been added bringing the number to nine. The Professional Development Committee (now called SPEAK) was established in 2007.