Times change, and so do security clearance terms. If you’ve been around the security clearance process for the past 20 years (whew!) you’ve seen a few different trends and terminology changes. One of the key shifts over the past several years has been the move to Continuous Vetting (CV) from Continuous Evaluation (CE). CE was first referenced in Executive Order (EO) 13467 in 2008. Later, in 2017, EO 13764 referenced Continuous Vetting. The two terms continue to be out there, but security clearance experts in the federal government are encouraging those disseminating information about the clearance process to update their documents, charts and terms to clarify that CV is the name of the game.
What is Continuous Vetting?
Continuous Vetting (CV) is a process that involves regularly reviewing a cleared individual’s background to ensure they continue to meet security clearance requirements and should continue to hold positions of trust. CV has replaced Periodic Reinvestigations (PRs) which were episodic checks of an individual’s reliability and trustworthiness. CV is being implemented in stages, with 1.25, 1.5, and 2.0 solutions as a part of the government’s Trusted Workforce overhaul of the security clearance vetting process.
How does the Continuous Vetting (CV) process work?
CV involves automated record checks pulling data from criminal, terrorism, and financial databases, as well as public records. CV solutions in place today do not currently pull from social media, but the process may soon involve CV checks of publicly facing social media profiles.
Is Self Reporting Still Required?
It’s worth noting that while CV is designed to identify risks sooner, it doesn’t eliminate an individual’s requirement to self-report issues. Self-reporting is a key factor in mitigating potential issues.
