ARE YOU DCSA AUDIT-READY?
Answer 5 quick questions to gauge your security program's readiness for its next DCSA audit.
Executive Brief
The Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA) conducts recurring security reviews of cleared contractors to confirm classified information is protected and National Industrial Security Program requirements are being followed.
Many teams still call these reviews “Vulnerability Assessments,” but DCSA has formalized its approach through the Security Review and Rating Process (SRRP), including a security rating framework that became effective October 1, 2024.
This is not just paperwork. Contractor participation is required to maintain a Facility Security Clearance (FCL).
If you want fewer findings and less follow-up, readiness needs to be measurable before DCSA arrives.
Dig deeper below to learn what DCSA evaluates and how to tell if you are ready.
What Is a DCSA Vulnerability Assessment?
In practice, “Vulnerability Assessment” is a common industry term for a DCSA security review of a cleared facility’s ability to protect classified information under the National Industrial Security Program (NISP).
Today, that review is executed under the Security Review and Rating Process (SRRP), which emphasizes a whole-company approach and .
These reviews are recurring and participation is required to maintain an FCL.
Take our Industrial Security Check Quiz to see if you could pass a DCSA assessment today.
What the Review Is Based On
DCSA oversight aligns to the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM), which is codified at Title 32 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 117, commonly referred to as “The Rule.”
So, your readiness is not just about “having policies.” It is about being able to demonstrate compliance with required procedures and controls.
What DCSA Evaluates During the Review
DCSA’s security review and rating approach is built around a whole-company posture, not a single program binder.
Expect scrutiny in areas like:
Security program effectiveness
- How your program aligns to NISPOM requirements
- Whether procedures match real operations
Management support
- Leadership involvement, resourcing, and accountability
- Whether leadership treats cybersecurity as a core operational requirement with defined ownership and accountability
Security awareness
- Training, reporting culture, and your staff’s understanding of requirements
- Insider threat awareness and escalation behavior
Security community cooperation
- Coordination across security, information technology, human resources, and program teams
- How quickly your team can produce evidence and answer questions
These categories are central to how DCSA frames SRRP ratings.
Common Readiness Gaps That Create Findings
Most findings come from drift, not bad intent.
Watch for:
- Standard Practice Procedures (SPP) that are outdated or generic
- Processes that exist “in theory” but are not consistently executed
- Weak evidence, meaning the team says it is done but cannot prove it
- Security ownership concentrated in one person with no depth or continuity
- Staff confusion on reporting requirements and insider threat responsibilities
Quick Readiness Test
You are closer to ready if you can do these without scrambling:
- Explain how classified information is received, stored, transmitted, and destroyed
- Produce current documentation fast, including local procedures and training records
- Show that leadership oversight is real, such as recurring reviews and resourcing decisions
- Demonstrate that security controls are implemented in practice, not just documented
- Answer “who owns this” clearly across security, information technology, and operations
If any of those feel uncertain, you should assume the review will surface it.
How to Prepare Before DCSA Arrives
You cannot control when a review occurs, but you can reduce risk before it does.
Preparation that actually moves the needle:
- Validate that your documented procedures match real workflows
- Run a mock review using the same structure DCSA uses, then fix the gaps
- Centralize evidence so you can produce it quickly and consistently
- Confirm your leadership understands their role in security posture and accountability
- Treat readiness as continuous, not a once-a-year cleanup effort
DCSA describes SRRP as collaborative and problem-solving oriented, but you still want to show up organized and defensible. Take our Industrial Security Check Quiz to see if your organization could pass a DCSA assessment today.
FAQs
Is a DCSA Vulnerability Assessment the same as a cybersecurity assessment?
No. Cybersecurity may be part of what DCSA looks at, but SRRP is a whole-company security review tied to NISPOM compliance and overall security posture categories.
Can findings impact our FCL?
Yes. DCSA states contractor participation in recurring security reviews is required to maintain an FCL, and unresolved issues can increase oversight and follow-up.
How often do these reviews happen?
DCSA states all National Industrial Security Program facilities are subject to a recurring security review. The exact frequency is risk-informed and can vary based on factors like prior issues and program risk.
When did the newer rating approach start?
DCSA training materials note security ratings using the refined process began October 1, 2024. These refinements were developed to minimize subjectivity and increase consistency, quality, and transparency in security ratings for contractors.
