IAEA Nuclear Security Series

This publication is a revision of IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 8, Preventive and Protective Measures against Insider Threats, published in 2008. The new publication provides updated guidance to States, their competent authorities and operators, and shippers and carriers on selecting, implementing and evaluating measures for addressing insider threats. It applies to any type of nuclear facility, notably nuclear power plants, research reactors and other nuclear fuel cycle facilities (e.g. enrichment plants, reprocessing plants, fuel fabrication plants, storage facilities), whether in design, redesign, construction, commissioning, operation, shutdown or decommissioning.

The identification and assessment of threats provides an essential basis for the selection, design, and implementation of nuclear security measures. For nuclear material and other radioactive material that is under regulatory control, and associated facilities and activities, the results of this identification and assessment are expressed as a design basis threat or representative threat statement describing the intentions and capabilities of potential adversaries against which the materials and associated facilities and activities are to be protected. An Implementing Guide was issued in 2009 under the title of Development, Use and Maintenance of the Design Basis Threat which was updated and revised. The result of this revision is the current publication. It provides a step-by-step methodology for conducting a national nuclear security threat assessment including both physical and computer security aspects, and for the development, use and maintenance of design basis threats and representative threat statements.

This publication provides a model academic curriculum covering the entire spectrum of nuclear security topics for a master’s degree programme or for an academic certificate programme in nuclear security. The first edition, entitled Educational Programmes in Nuclear Security, was published in 2010. Since then, the body of knowledge in the field of nuclear security has grown substantially and the IAEA Nuclear Security Series has expanded to cover more topics. The current publication takes into account the latest IAEA guidance, as well as feedback from the International Nuclear Security Education Network (INSEN) community and other international experts. The publication can be used by university curriculum developers as well as faculty and instructors from institutions that are implementing or considering educational programmes in nuclear security.

This updated version of IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 9, Security of Radioactive Material in Transport, is intended to facilitate the establishment of an internationally consistent approach to security of radioactive material in transport. It builds on the relevant recommendations of various existing IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications and is applicable to the security of packages containing radioactive material that could cause unacceptable radiological consequences if used in a malicious act during international or domestic transport. It is also relevant to the security of some nuclear materials of category III and below during transport, due to the radioactive nature of the material. Guidance on protection against unauthorized removal and sabotage is also covered.

This revision provides guidance to States and their competent authorities on how to establish or improve, implement, maintain and sustain the elements of the nuclear security regime related to radioactive material, associated facilities and activities, with particular emphasis on the development of regulatory requirements. The publication applies to the security of radioactive material in use or in storage, as well as associated facilities and associated activities, and assists Member States in their regimes against unauthorized removal of the radioactive material or sabotage performed with the intent to cause harmful radiological consequences.

This revision provides guidance on how to establish or improve, develop, implement, maintain, and sustain computer security within nuclear facilities. This publication addresses the use of risk informed approaches to establish and enhance computer security policies, programmes; it describes the integration of computer security into the management system of a facility; establishes a systematic approach to identifying facility functions and appropriate computer security measures that protect sensitive digital assets and the facility from the consequence of cyber-attacks consistent with the threat assessment or design basis threat.

This publication provides guidance to States, competent authorities and operators on appropriate nuclear security measures during each stage in the lifetime of a nuclear facility, from initial planning of the facility through to its final decommissioning. The publication addresses effective nuclear security in the transition between stages and applies to the nuclear security of nuclear material and nuclear facilities throughout the lifetime of all types of nuclear facility. Although focused on nuclear power, the guidance contained in this publication may be useful for States developing nuclear programmes with other types of facility, including those for research and development.

This publication elaborates upon the recommendations given in IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 15, Nuclear Security Recommendations on Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material out of Regulatory Control, in relation to preventative measures. It serves as guidance for Member States interested in strengthening their nuclear security regime as it relates to nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control and in improving their capabilities. The publication covers the following indicative elements: general considerations for preventive measures; deterrence measures, including deterrence by punishment and deterrence by denial; information security; promotion of nuclear security culture; and measures for addressing the insider threat, including measures to promote the trustworthiness of personnel. The last section of the publication provides guidance on international cooperation and assistance to strengthen preventive measures.

Nuclear security culture is an important component of an effective nuclear security regime, as it serves as a tool to improve the performance of the human component at nuclear facilities and organizations to counter both insider and outsider threats. Security culture connotes not only the technical proficiency of the people but also their awareness of security risks and motivation to follow established procedures, comply with regulations and take the initiative when unforeseen circumstances arise. A workforce made up of individuals who are vigilant, who question irregularities, execute their work diligently and exhibit high standards of personal and collective behaviour is able to achieve effective nuclear security. Building upon this understanding of the importance of a strong nuclear security culture, this publication provides practical guidance on how to implement a systematic nuclear security culture enhancement programme.

This publication provides guidance to States on the development, implementation, maintenance and sustainment of a national framework for managing the response to nuclear security events. Such a framework involves a structure and a set of principles and agreements around which a State can frame its nuclear security response functions, addressing the interfaces which need to exist between responding agencies to ensure effective, coordinated response. By using this Implementing Guide, a State will ensure that it has considered all relevant key issues as it develops its national framework for responding to nuclear security events.

This publication provides comprehensive detailed guidance for States, competent authorities and operators on how to implement the recommendations and implementing guidance of existing IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications for an effective physical protection system (PPS) for nuclear facilities and nuclear materials in use and storage. It provides further technical detail on how to design and evaluate a PPS, with respect to the selection and integration of appropriate, effective physical protection measures (including equipment). The publication is intended to serve as a general reference, pointing users to other complementary guidance on specific topics.

This publication elaborates upon the recommendations given in IAEA Nuclear Security Series No. 15, Nuclear Security Recommendations on Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material out of Regulatory Control, in relation to preventative measures. It serves as guidance for Member States interested in strengthening their nuclear security regime as it relates to nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control and in improving their capabilities. The publication covers the following indicative elements: general considerations for preventive measures; deterrence measures, including deterrence by punishment and deterrence by denial; information security; promotion of nuclear security culture; and measures for addressing the insider threat, including measures to promote the trustworthiness of personnel. The last section of the publication provides guidance on international cooperation and assistance to strengthen preventive measures.

This publication presents detailed concepts and procedures for the preparation, conduct and evaluation of exercises to test relevant nuclear security systems and measures, and provides useful templates and checklists that can be used to assist the exercise development process. The technical guidance provided is targeted at States and their competent authorities to assist them in establishing and sustaining an effective infrastructure to strengthen detection of and response to material out of regulatory control and evaluate the effectiveness of their plans by presenting a structured methodology for the consistent development of exercises.

This publication provides detailed guidance on developing, implementing, and integrating computer security as a key component of nuclear security. This guidance applies to computer security aspects of nuclear security and its interfaces with nuclear safety and with other elements of a State’s nuclear security regime, including the security of nuclear material and nuclear facilities, of radioactive material and associated facilities, and of nuclear and other radioactive material outside of regulatory control. The scope of this publication includes: computer-based systems, the compromise of which could adversely affect nuclear security or nuclear safety; the State’s and relevant entities roles and responsibilities in relation to computer security in the nuclear security regime; the activities of the State in establishing and implementing a computer security strategy for nuclear security; the elements and measures for subordinate computer security programmes; and the activities to sustain the strategy.

Detection of nuclear security events involving nuclear and other radioactive material out of regulatory control is an important challenge facing States. Timely detection of this material can reduce the risk of it being used in criminal or intentional unauthorized acts. This publication provides guidance for States on planning, implementing and evaluating nuclear security detection systems and measures at State borders. Special consideration is given to designated points of entry and exit and border areas. National competent authorities such as the border guard, customs authorities, national or local law enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies will find this guidance useful for developing, designing, implementing, and sustaining detection systems and measures at State borders.

Security management for radioactive material in use, storage and associated facilities includes the establishment and implementation of policies, plans, procedures and processes for the security of radioactive material. Security management assists to ensure that the security systems are effective, reliably operated and maintained with the necessary resources. Based on extensive input from technical and legal experts, this publication sets forth security management as an essential tool to verify that personnel, procedures and equipment operate interdependently and in an integrated manner, and that the leadership and personnel responsible for security demonstrate the highest commitment towards promoting a robust nuclear security culture within the organization. This Technical Guidance references and takes into account other IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications that provide guidance relating to security management. The document further provides guidance , including on the development of a security plan for radioactive material in use and in storage and for associated facilities. The Security Plan is an essential component of an operators licensing submission package. This Technical Guidance takes into account other IAEA Nuclear Security Series publications that provide guidance relating to security management and relating to security plans.