In early August, the National Counterintelligence and Security Center within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence published a new edition of the National Counterintelligence Strategy.
The refreshed version includes nine goals split across three pillars, which focus on addressing threats posed by foreign intelligence entities, or FIEs; defending U.S. strategic advantages; and laying a foundation for future counterintelligence, or CI, operations. It was developed by NCSC with input partners across the Intelligence Community and wider U.S. government to provide “a comprehensive vision and direction for the CI community to address increasingly complex foreign intelligence threats,” NCSC Director Michael Casey said in a statement.
Keep reading to learn more about the strategy and its place in the IC’s sweeping transformation efforts.
The 2024 National Counterintelligence Strategy
Pillar 1
Today’s CI landscape is shaped by operations by foreign adversaries in the “gray zone,” which the strategy defines as “a space between war and peace that encompasses intelligence activities that push the boundaries of accepted norms.”
The first pillar hopes to counter gray zone activities by using modern technologies and collection methods and collaboration with government and industry partners to efficiently detect and mitigate threats posed by FIEs. This effort will be guided by three main objectives:
- Detect, understand and anticipate foreign intelligence threats
- Counter, degrade and deter foreign intelligence activities and capabilities
- Combat foreign intelligence cyber activities
Some key technologies NCSC hopes to leverage are open source intelligence, or OSINT, artificial intelligence, modern information technology systems and cybersecurity tools.
Pillar 2
The second pillar aims to safeguard U.S. strengths. This portion of the strategy looks at counterintelligence from both the individual and institutional levels. One of its main goals is to protect American citizens who are targeted by adversaries looking to exploit personal data, such as health records, financial data and mobile device information, among others.
On a societal scale, this pillar seeks to defend democratic institutions, technology, economic security, critical infrastructure and supply chains.
To address threats to these areas, the NCSC seeks to better understand the intentions of FIEs by improving collection capabilities and enforcing response timelines. It also hopes to foster stronger partnerships with state, local and foreign governments; private sector organizations; and the public to inform decision making and increase risks for FIEs operating in the U.S.
Pillar 3
The third pillar takes a forward-thinking approach, focusing on ways to lay a foundation for future success in CI operations. It lists four methods for accomplishing this goal:
- Investing in advanced technologies and integrated capabilities while using current research platforms to address CI gaps
- Expanding and upskilling the CI workforce
- Streamlining and augmenting the CI authorities of the federal government and state, local, foreign and private sector partners
Counterintelligence and the Wider IC Modernization Journey
The 2024 National Counterintelligence Strategy is one of many plans the IC has released as it works to adapt its priorities to the shifting intelligence landscape. Below are three recent strategies and updates that support its CI goals.
Vision for the IC Information Environment
The IC has recognized the importance of modern IT capabilities in today’s intelligence environment, which is more digitally driven than ever before. To pave a pathway for IT transformation, the IC in May published its Vision for the IC Information Environment, a roadmap for achieving the level of IT mastery necessary for success in modern intelligence. Its five focus areas are:
- Fortify the mission with a reliable and resilient digital foundation
- Assure the mission with robust cybersecurity
- Enable the mission with modern practices and partnerships
- Enhance the mission with data-centricity
- Accelerate the mission with advanced technologies and workforce readiness
IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026
Embracing OSINT, which includes any information that is publicly available, such as news articles and social media content, is one way the IC plans to achieve the goals laid out in the first pillar of the National Intelligence Strategy.
In March, ODNI released the IC OSINT Strategy 2024-2026, which aims to create a “professionalized, integrated and agile IC OSINT enterprise providing decision advantage for U.S. policymakers and warfighters and driving innovation with partners.” The strategy provides a detailed plan for elevating OSINT capabilities across the entire IC and breaking down information sharing barriers across agencies. Its four strategic focus areas include:
- Coordinating open source data acquisition and expanding data sharing
- Establishing integrated open source collection management
- Driving OSINT innovation to deliver new capabilities
- Developing the next generation OSINT workforce and tradecraft
Election Security Update
Elections are a vital element of American democracy, and the 2024 National Intelligence Strategy emphasizes the importance of preserving democratic institutions. The IC is laser focused on election security threats, and a July election security update lists three nations — Russia, China and Iran — that are trying to sway U.S. public opinion. The document notes social media and AI as major factors in their efforts.
Want to learn more about current U.S. intelligence goals? The Potomac Officers Club’s 2024 Intel Summit on Sept. 19 will offer you the opportunity to hear from IC leaders and industry experts who will gather to share their thoughts on today’s intelligence priorities. To unlock the insights the 2024 Intel Summit has to offer, register to attend the event on the Potomac Officers Club website.
