What Could Make You Fail a Security Clearance?

There are different types of security clearance such as Security check (SC), Developed vetting (DV), Counter-Terrorism Check (CTC), Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), and a couple more depending on your country/area. The BPSS is recognised in the UK as the baseline security clearance level mandatory for anyone who would be working with or would have access to government assets. Personnel who need this include civil servants, military, government contractors and anyone who needs access to UK official assets, UK Secret assets, and areas where there is potential to overhear secret/top secret information. The BPSS is also a prerequisite of the Counter Terrorist Check (CTC).

The CTC is a requirement for personnel that may be working in close proximity to public figures, personnel who have access to information that could be valuable to terrorists, and personnel who may have unmonitored access to government and industrial assets that are prone to terrorist attack. The Security Check (SC) is essential for personnel that require unmonitored long-term access to secret assets, and/or monitored access to top secret assets. It is also essential for personnel that require access to classified material that has originated from outside the UK. There is also the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check which employers might need to carry out on a potential employee. The DBS check provides you a copy of a person’s criminal record.

The information checked about you depends on the type of security clearance you have applied for. Here are nine factors that could negatively affect the outcome of your security vetting.

1. Criminal convictions: this covers both minor and major crimes committed. Some of the factors considered when checking an individual’s criminal record for clearance purposes are the frequency of the crime, how serious the crime is, and the motive behind the criminal act. It is important to be straightforward from the start in your application. It saves everyone time and stress. Be upfront about any crimes committed, no matter how small you think they are.
2. Negligence with sensitive information or assets: this refers to a habitual failure to comply with required standards or guidelines related to sensitive information such as: an inability to keep passwords to classified information safe, taking classified information out of the workplace to unauthorised places to work on (e.g., taking classified data home to work on), moving classified assets away from their designated place to areas that are deemed unsecure. If such information about you comes to light, it could affect your chances of obtaining clearance.
3. Breaching any of the computer misuse act: abuse of electronic information or information systems such as using the computer to commit or facilitate a crime, causing the computer to malfunction either by installing malware or causing a denial of service (DoS).
4. Haven’t resided long enough in the country: in the UK, there is usually a requirement to have lived for up to 5 years in the UK to obtain some clearance. Your security clearance could be denied if you have not resided long enough in the country. This should not be a reason to worry.
5. Untrue or Missing information: this may be intentional or unintentional omission of information. The case handler cannot really tell your intentions from your application, so your security clearance application would probably be denied.
6. Financial situation: a poor financial situation may count against an applicant during the vetting process. Having outstanding credit or debt does not necessarily mean a refusal of security clearance, however, the manner in which the debt is handled is considered. If the debt appears to be well managed, paid on time, and there is no evidence of struggling to pay, there would most likely be no problem with the vetting in this regard. This is to assess the trustworthiness of an individual with financial assets.
7. Significant gaps in employment: this does not automatically mean a denial. However, you might be questioned on the reason for the gap(s). You should not be too worried if the gaps were due to you undergoing some form of education or medical treatment.
8. Links to terrorism or terrorist cells: this would most likely lead to a denial for obvious reasons. Terrorism is frowned upon by government of most countries, and would most likely not want to be associated with such; neither would they want to grant such a person clearance to sensitive information which may also be tied to national security.
9. Frequent change of residential address: this may not necessarily lead to a denial; however, you might be questioned on your reason for moving houses so frequently, or for living at different addresses for a period that may normally be considered short. This may be further looked into, to confirm the reasons given. Depending on the type of clearance, it might be a useful pointer to assess the applicant’s character; being sure the applicant has not always constituted a nuisance everywhere they have lived. Fraudsters are also known to change addresses and phone numbers quite regularly.

In conclusion, a denied clearance application does not automatically equate the end. There is an opportunity to appeal some decisions. On this part of the topic, we recommend consulting a lawyer, or a professional who specialises in this area. Most common sectors that require security clearance are: Health Sector, Law enforcement, Politics, Telecoms and Information Technology. Know any other sectors? Let us know in the comments section.

You can read more on the UK Gov website:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/united-kingdom-security-vetting-clearance-levels/national-security-vetting-clearance-levels