Reply to: Re-activate SC Clearance

[malvolio]

Thanks for the replies all.

I spoke with the security team at my previous place today and they told me that they still hold my SC and it is indeed still valid, which is good news.

I think I set the cat amongst the pigeons though when I told them my reasoning for calling, I don't think the security guy who said it was going to be revoked had either the authority or the right to remove it.

Good news. I think that counts as a result for the good guys.

[Boss]

Thanks for the replies all.

I spoke with the security team at my previous place today and they told me that they still hold my SC and it is indeed still valid, which is good news.

I think I set the cat amongst the pigeons though when I told them my reasoning for calling, I don't think the security guy who said it was going to be revoked had either the authority or the right to remove it.

[Gibbon]

Really? That's news to me. It may not be transferable from say defence to police but I didn't know they could just refuse. That sounds ludicrous.

I think its to do with the company that initially clears you has to pay for it, usually there is a gentleman agreement that no one does refuse or it will happen vice versa. I had to wait weeks for my certificate to be transferred before I could access the secret network, because previously other companies (GCHQ being one) wouldn't pass on the certs.

[SueEllen]

I was quite pleased when I obtained SC clearance but with the upcoming PS changes, I'm not sure I'll ever need it again.

There are private companies who do government and defence work where you never have to set foot on a government or police site. They use contractors as well and you have to be cleared.

[northernladuk]

The holding company can also refuse to forward it on. Where I work this has happened a few times and the people have to be re-cleared.

Really? That's news to me. It may not be transferable from say defence to police but I didn't know they could just refuse. That sounds ludicrous.

[Gibbon]

The holding company can also refuse to forward it on. Where I work this has happened a few times and the people have to be re-cleared.

[westtester]

I was quite pleased when I obtained SC clearance but with the upcoming PS changes, I'm not sure I'll ever need it again.

[Scruff]

Just as an aside.

When you are granted an SC Clearance, you are informed as the date that it expires, as well as the Department which granted it. If you have a change of circumstances, you can contact the holder and they will inform you whether it is still valid and the date from which they have held it, since your departure.

SC Clearances can be for 5 or 10 years, from the initial date, depending on how your application is processed.

[malvolio]

However, clearance and what constitutes sufficient clearance is heavily aligned to the job in hand and the material you will be using. It's more than possible that your previous clearance did not give enough assurance in some specific area. The default position is to refuse clearance if anything is not clear, or if some other situation has arisen that affects the risk level.

I know someone who lost their SC because his ex-wife was heavily overdrawn on one of his credit cards and the MOD are heavy on financial mis-management since you are then open to coercion. The police, on the other hand, care more about fraud and the like, since they care more about fundamental honesty..

It is something of a myth that SC is portable and can apply anywhere; it can't, it only means you are allowed to see material to a certain level, it doesn't mean you can see all material at that level..

[northernladuk]

I have never known an organisation to revoke it for its staff, but I am not sure how this would sit with contractors, worse case if you only left the SC role in May 2016, it should be good to transfer to any new role, but it will be upto the discretion of the Security team who hold the clearance, but be prepared to get a wall of silence as some places refuse to discuss clearance and it can be arbitrary if they do

You are probably right in some cases but what a poor situation. They hold your clearance so must be obligated to discuss it with you but can see how some might not as they are just too far removed to care. The only times I've ever spoken to the Security Teams at my perm gig they were just like HR bods. Ask DoB gave the speil and off I went. The level of people I was speaking to weren't at the level to decide who they do and don't speak to which should work in your favour.

[SimonMac]

I was working for a bi consultancy which cleared most of its permie staff for certain projects, when they moved to a different non SC project within the same company they were deemed to have kept it despite not being in a role which needed the clearance, when they moved back to a role that required SC (even after 12 months) it was a straight transfer.

I have never known an organisation to revoke it for its staff, but I am not sure how this would sit with contractors, worse case if you only left the SC role in May 2016, it should be good to transfer to any new role, but it will be upto the discretion of the Security team who hold the clearance, but be prepared to get a wall of silence as some places refuse to discuss clearance and it can be arbitrary if they do

[northernladuk]

Thanks for the reply mate. I'll send an email tomorrow to the security guy and see if I get a response.

Here is an out of the box idea.... Why don't you ring him? That way you've got a better chance to get to the bottom of it. Emailing a guy that doesn't really care anymore isn't the best way forward.

I forgot to add a bit to this (for what it's worth). My SC was initially granted working for another company (2014/15) and was due to run for 10 years, i'd worked a couple of non-SC jobs leading up to that role without it ever being a problem.

SC clearance is valid for 10 years but it lapses if you don't use it for a year however far in to the 10 years you are.

edit: Sorry, I forgot one more thing (I don't know if it's useful), I was contracting for an MSP who were contracted for the infrastructure support of a client, and it was the client who revoked/withdrew my SC.

Cheers.

Security clearance has to he held by a List X company. It's unlikely your MSP is hence your client owning it. It's their data at risk after all.

[Boss]

Because the client didn't think your clearance was valid?

Don't be surprised if you don't get a clear answer.

It was definitely valid, my role required SC and there were no problems for the 9 months I was doing it.

The role I moved into didn't require it, which I guess prompted him to have it revoked.

[malvolio]

Thanks for the reply mate. I'll send an email tomorrow to the security guy and see if I get a response.

I forgot to add a bit to this (for what it's worth). My SC was initially granted working for another company (2014/15) and was due to run for 10 years, i'd worked a couple of non-SC jobs leading up to that role without it ever being a problem.

Thanks again, i'll update when I know more.

edit: Sorry, I forgot one more thing (I don't know if it's useful), I was contracting for an MSP who were contracted for the infrastructure support of a client, and it was the client who revoked/withdrew my SC.

Cheers.

Because the client didn't think your clearance was valid?

Don't be surprised if you don't get a clear answer.

[Boss]

Thanks for the reply mate. I'll send an email tomorrow to the security guy and see if I get a response.

I forgot to add a bit to this (for what it's worth). My SC was initially granted working for another company (2014/15) and was due to run for 10 years, i'd worked a couple of non-SC jobs leading up to that role without it ever being a problem.

Thanks again, i'll update when I know more.

edit: Sorry, I forgot one more thing (I don't know if it's useful), I was contracting for an MSP who were contracted for the infrastructure support of a client, and it was the client who revoked/withdrew my SC.

Cheers.