What are the differences between NSA/CSS and U.S. Cyber Commands roles?
While both organizations share the same leader, NSA/CSS and U.S. Cyber Command do not share the same mission. NSA conducts SIGINT and Information Assurance for national security information and systems. USCYBERCOM operates under U.S. Code Title 10 (traditional military activities) and Title 32 (National Guard and Reserve). NSA/CSS has two interconnected missions: Signals Intelligence (known as SIGINT) and Information Assurance. Through SIGINT, NSA gathers information that America’s adversaries wish to keep secret. Through Information Assurance, NSA protects America’s vital national security information and systems from theft or damage by others. Taken together, the SIGINT and Information Assurance missions are essential to a third function: enabling Network Warfare, a military operation. Through carrying out its missions, NSA/CSS helps save lives, defend vital networks, and advance our Nation’s goals and alliances, while strictly protecting privacy rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constit
