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What is the National Security Agency (NSA)

National Security Agency mathematicians, linguists, engineers, and computer scientists focus on two core missions: Information Assurance-codemaking, and Signals Intelligence-codebreaking.

Information Assurance prevents America's adversaries from exploiting sensitive U.S. government communications by giving policymakers and warfighters a secure means of communicating. NSA products allow the President of the United States to communicate securely wherever he is. War fighters on the front line can discuss their operations and get critical intelligence information quickly without fear that the enemy is listening.

NSA also develops and produces the command and control systems that protect U.S. military operations and keep U.S. weapons systems from unauthorized use. These Information Assurance products and services allow NSA's customers to communicate securely anywhere in the world in real time. Even in space.

While NSA's codemakers are keeping U.S. government communications secure, NSA's codebreakers are exploiting foreign adversaries' communications-a discipline known as Signals Intelligence, or SIGINT. NSA experts collect, process, and analyze foreign signals. Their reports give policymakers and warfighters a decisive edge.

NSA customers use this information to counter terrorism, prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and thwart the flow of narcotics into our country.

NSA's missions depend on the expertise of a joint military and civilian workforce. These codemakers and codebreakers have been inventing new technology, preventing conflict, shortening wars, and saving lives since 1952.

Source: National Security Agency

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