Personnel Security Management Protocol

The Protective Security Requirements (PSR) set out the government’s mandatory requirements and management requirements related to personnel security.

Personnel security focuses on assessing the trustworthiness, integrity and reliability of staff and contractors. It involves identifying suitable staff, educating staff on their responsibilities and evaluating their continuing suitability.

Appropriate personnel security is vital for the protection of people, information and assets.

Mandatory requirements

There are 7 mandatory requirements relating to personnel security that agencies must follow.

They include:

1. ensuring all personnel are, and remain, suitable to access official information and resources
2. identifying who needs a security clearance and at what level within an agency
3. keeping an agency register of personnel with security clearances
4. sponsoring their employees and contracted staff for security clearance vetting
5. receiving a recommendation from the NZSIS before the agency head grants a security clearance
6. having personnel security clearance management arrangements in place for all clearance holders
7. notifying the NZSIS when a clearance holder experiences a change in their personal circumstances which might affect their suitability to hold a security clearance.

Management requirements

The PSR provides further information for agencies on topics such as contact reporting and procedural fairness.

For more information, refer to the management requirements for personnel security.