Security Incident Management Analysis System (SIMAS)
1. Contact Information
Department of State Privacy Coordinator
Margaret P. Grafeld
Bureau of Administration
Global Information Services
Office of Information Programs and Services
2. System Information
(a) Date PIA was completed: January 5, 2010
(b) Name of system: Security Incident Management Analysis System
(c) System acronym: SIMAS
(d) IT Asset Baseline (ITAB) number: 798
(e) System description (Briefly describe scope, purpose, and major functions):
The Security Incident Management and Analysis System (SIMAS) is a worldwide Bureau
of Diplomatic Security (DS) web-based application, which serves as a repository for all
suspicious activity and crime reporting from U.S. Diplomatic Missions abroad (all U.S.
embassies and consulates). Department of State personnel, including Diplomatic
Security personnel, regional security officers, and cleared foreign nationals, enter
Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) into SIMAS as a central repository for all physical
security incidents overseas. SIMAS Reports typically contain a detailed narrative
description of the suspicious activity prompting the report, available suspicious person(s)
and vehicle descriptors, and other identification data as may be available (e.g.
photographs). Reports also indicate date, time and location of suspicious activity, and
may include amplifying comments from relevant Bureau offices.
(f) Reason for performing PIA:
New system
Significant modification to an existing system
To update existing PIA for a triennial security re-certification
(g) Explanation of modification (if applicable): Certification & Accreditation
(h) Date of previous PIA (if applicable): October 26, 2009
3. Characterization of the Information
The system:
does NOT contain PII. If this is the case, you must only complete Section 13.
does contain PII. If this is the case, you must complete the entire template.
a. What elements of PII are collected and maintained by the system? What are the
sources of the information?
SIMAS collects and maintains the following types of PII on members of the public,
foreign nationals, U.S. government employees, and contractors who are identified as
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being directly or indirectly involved in or associated with suspicious activities and/or
criminal allegations near USG property. All types of information may not be collected on
each specific group of individuals. However, it may be possible for all forms of PII to be
collected on an individual.
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•

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Citizenship Status and Information (source-documents)
o DSP-11 (Passport Application)
o OF-156 (VISA application)
Biometric Information (source-observation and photography)
o Gender
o Race
o Height
o Weight
o Eye Color
o Skin Tone
o Hair Color
o Hair Style
o Images
o Age or Estimated Age
o Body Type (Build)
o Scars, Marks, & Tattoos
Other (source-personal interview by authorities)
o Name
o Address
o DOB
o Telephone Number
o Father’s Name
o Mother’s Name

b. How is the information collected?
SIMAS allows Department of State (DOS) personnel to input “events” consisting of
suspicious or potentially threatening incidents gathered from observations in the vicinity
of a post. It provides a means for collecting detailed characteristics of persons, vehicles,
and other entities associated with a particular incident. It also allows users to download
digital images to an event.
c. Why is the information collected and maintained?
SIMAS enables DOS staff to recognize trends and patterns of hostile surveillance
directed against U.S. mission personnel and property. The system links suspicious
entities to other suspicious entities and/or event components. Regional security officers
(RSOs) submit telegrams concerning surveillance detection incidents judged highprobability of terrorism nexus per existing instructions. All information in SIMAS is
visible to headquarters and to RSOs with SIMAS access worldwide.
d. How will the information be checked for accuracy?
The agency or source providing the information is responsible for verifying accuracy.
Specific methodologies for verification employed by the Bureau of Diplomatic Security
(DS) include, among other things, maintaining the system as a live feed, allowing the
information to be updated/edited at any time, and cross referencing information. A
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SIMAS working group meets on a daily basis to review and analyze all SIMAS events
(received by cable and via SIMAS) submitted by posts over the previous 24 hour period
to identify correlation and trends, track the status of incidents, ensure appropriate followup action, and to provide timely dissemination within DS and other actionable U.S.
government agencies. This working group is chaired by ITA and is comprised of
representatives from CI, IP, ITA, OPO, and PRV. Completeness of data will be checked
through investigations and/or through personal interviews of the source of the
information.
e. What specific legal authorities, arrangements, and/or agreements define the
collection of information?
The legal authorities as documented in STATE-36, Diplomatic Security Records, specific
to SIMAS, are as follows:
•
•
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Pub.L. 99-399 (Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of
1986), as amended;
Pub.L. 107-56 Stat.272, 10/26/01 (USA PATRIOT Act); (Uniting and
Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to
Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism); and
Executive Order 13356, 8/27/04 (Strengthening the sharing of Terrorism
Information to Protect Americans).

f. Privacy Impact Analysis: Given the amount and type of data collected, discuss the
privacy risks identified and how they were mitigated.
SIMAS collects the minimum amount of personally identifiable information (PII)
necessary to complete its statutorily mandated functions. SIMAS collects a significant
amount of personally identifiable information to positively identify individuals who have
jeopardized the safety of U.S. missions abroad. This collection of PII is justified due to
the need to protect personnel at U.S. missions and share information about security
incidents abroad with other U.S. Government agencies.
As SIMAS does collect sensitive PII, there are numerous management, operational, and
technical security controls in place to protect the data, in accordance with the Federal
Information Security Management Act (FISMA) of 2002 and the information assurance
standards published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
These controls include regular security assessments, physical and environmental
protection, encryption, access control, personnel security, identification and
authentication, contingency planning, media handling, configuration management,
boundary and information integrity protection (e.g., firewalls, intrusion detection systems,
antivirus software), and audit reports.
4. Uses of the Information
a. Describe all uses of the information.
SIMAS allows direct communication of suspicious activity and crime information
between posts and headquarters. It centralizes the data from all posts for analysis, and
allows RSOs to also view events entered by other posts in their regions or globally.

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b. What types of methods are used to analyze the data? What new information
may be produced?
DS investigators and analysts are able to retrieve data based on text queries and then
use the data to conduct terrorist and criminal investigative analysis based on data
collected and stored in SIMAS. The information in SIMAS is then used in connection
with other intelligence and law enforcement information that is collected through other
means such as Motor Vehicle Records, Law Enforcement Only restricted databases
(i.e. NCIC, TECS, etc.), and other outside sources. No new information on the record
subject is produced with in SIMAS.
c. If the system uses commercial information, publicly available information, or
information from other Federal agency databases, explain how it is used.
Information contained within SIMAS is collected from overseas sources such as foreign
local police departments and from subjects themselves through interdiction by local
police which results in personal biographical data such as names, dates of birth, or
information captured directly by the SD team i.e. photos, record of license plates. The
system does not use other federal databases. An analyst may utilize the raw data from
SIMAS in concert with intelligence from other federal agencies in compiling an
intelligence product outside of SIMAS, but it does not make its way back into the SIMAS
database.
d. Is the system a contractor used and owned system?
SIMAS is a U.S. Government owned system which was primarily designed and
developed by contractors under the guidance and management of U.S. Government
employees. All contractors abide by regulatory guidelines established as part of their
contractual arrangement with the U.S. Government and have signed and follow DS rules
related to the protection and handling of sensitive information. All employees (FS, GS,
and contractor) are required to be trained annually on the protection of information as
part of the DOS Information Security Program. These records are maintained centrally
and by DS as well.
e. Privacy Impact Analysis: Describe the types of controls that may be in place to
ensure that information is handled in accordance with the above uses.
SIMAS collects and processes sensitive PII and performs significant analysis and
matching against other U.S. Government databases for the purpose of suspicious
activities and crime reporting but does not create new information about the record
subject. Accounts assigned to users are issued on a need-to-know basis which is
determined by the office of assignment. Thus, there are adequate safeguards in place to
preserve data accuracy or integrity and avoid faulty determinations or false inferences
about the record subject, thereby mitigating privacy risk. There is also no risk of “function
creep,” wherein, with the passage of time, PII is used for purposes for which the public
was not given notice. Information within SIMAS is used for a specific purposes only,
suspicious activities and crime reporting, thereby mitigating any privacy risk associated
with the collection of sensitive PII.

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5. Retention
a. How long is information retained?
The retention period of data is consistent with established Department of State policies
and guidelines as documented in the Department of State’s Disposition Schedule of
Diplomatic Security Records, Chapter 11, Countermeasures & Counterintelligence,
A-11-003-21a&b.
Information on cases that reflect distinctive Department activities, attract media or
Congressional interest, or are otherwise historically significant are kept permanently. All
other case information is reviewed every five years and destroyed 20 years after
determination date that the case no longer has any security interest.
b. Privacy Impact Analysis: Discuss the risks associated with the duration that data
is retained and how those risks are mitigated.
SIMAS collects and maintains personally identifiable information (PII). There are
inherent risks associated with maintaining this type of information. Records within
SIMAS are only retained in accordance with the Diplomatic Security records disposition
schedule; they are not used for purposes outside of terrorist or criminal investigations
and are properly disposed of according to their records disposition schedule.
6. Internal Sharing and Disclosure
a. With which internal organizations is the information shared? What information is
shared? For what purpose is the information shared?
The information collected and maintained by SIMAS is shared with the Office of Counter
Terrorism (C/ST) and the Office of Intelligence and Research (INR) as well as various
regional desk and senior DOS offices for the purpose of preventing crime and terrorism.
b. How is the information transmitted or disclosed? What safeguards are in place
for each sharing arrangement?
In order for an employee of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to obtain access to
SIMAS, they must complete the required training to gain access to OpenNet and the
SIMAS application; have their manager’s approval; pass the proper security checks; and
request and be granted access.
Information is shared internally to bureaus outside of DS in the form of a report via
classified cable. Information shared outside of DS is shared on a “need to know” basis
with offices and bureaus which require the information in order to fulfill their mission.
Numerous management operational and technical controls are in place to reduce and
mitigate the risks associated with internal sharing and disclosure including, but not
limited to: annual security training, separation of duties, least privilege, and personnel
screening.

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c. Privacy Impact Analysis: Describe risks to privacy from internal sharing and
disclosure and describe how the risks are mitigated.
It is possible for a DOS employee with authorized access SIMAS to retrieve an
individual’s PII and use this information in an unauthorized manner. In order to mitigate
this risk all DOS employees are required to undergo computer security and privacy
awareness training prior to accessing SIMAS, through which the information is shared,
and must complete refresher training yearly in order to retain access. A system of
records is maintained all access to SIMAS files.
7. External Sharing and Disclosure
a. With which external organizations is the information shared? What information is
shared? For what purpose is the information shared?
There is external sharing of PII from SIMAS to the intelligence and security communities
through classified telegram/cable dissemination when warranted for life or safety issues,
and criminal or terrorist investigative purposes. There is a signed memorandum of
agreement (MOA) with the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC).
b. How is the information shared outside the Department? What safeguards are in
place for each sharing arrangement?
PII collected and maintained in SIMAS is shared with several departments and agencies
through classified cable traffic for purposes of mitigating terrorist action. This includes:
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Central Intelligence Agency

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Department of Homeland Security

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Federal Bureau of Investigation

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Department of Justice

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Department of Agriculture

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Department of Treasury

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Department of Defense

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National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency

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Department of Energy

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Nuclear Regulatory Commission

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Department of Health and Human
Services

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US Capital Police

The safeguards of the classified system are relied upon to protect the PII information. In
addition, SIMAS information is available for the NCTC for review, in accordance with the
signed MOA.
c. Privacy Impact Analysis: Describe risks to privacy from external sharing and
disclosure and describe how the risks are mitigated.
PII collected and maintained in SIMAS is currently shared through classified cable
means when necessary. Risk is mitigated by the use of the classified network and PII
within SIMAS is protected during transfer through the integrity of DOS classified
programs. Other external sharing is covered through an MOA between DOS and the
NCTC. The MOA limits and protects the use of PII with the agency.
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The risks associated with sharing privacy information externally and the disclosure of
privacy information is generally higher than internal sharing and disclosure. Intentional
and unintentional disclosure of privacy information by personnel can result from social
engineering, phishing, abuse of elevated privileges or general lack of training.
Transmission of privacy data in an unencrypted form (plain text) and the use of unsecure connections are also a serious threat to external sharing. Numerous operational
and technical management controls are in place to reduce and mitigate the risks
associated with external sharing and disclosure including, but not limited to formal
memorandums of agreement/understandings (MOA/MOU), service level agreements
(SLA), annual security training, separation of duties, least privilege and personnel
screening.
8. Notice
The system:
Contains information covered by the Privacy Act.
Provide number and name of each applicable system of records.
(visit www.state.gov/m/a/ips/c25533.htm for list of all published systems):
STATE-36
Does NOT contain information covered by the Privacy Act.
a. Is notice provided to the individual prior to collection of their information?
Notice of the purpose, use and authority for collection of information are described in the
System of Records Notices STATE-36, Security Records.
b. Do individuals have the opportunity and/or right to decline to provide
information?
No. Due to the nature of the information collected and maintained by SIMAS, individuals
may or may not have the opportunity or right to decline the collection of information.
Some of the information collected and maintained by SIMAS includes observational
information such as height, weight, hair color, gender, and build collected through
photography.
c. Do individuals have the right to consent to limited, special, and/or specific uses
of the information? If so, how does the individual exercise the right?
No. The utility of the information in the system about a particular individual will not
extend beyond the allotted time in the Department of State’s Disposition of Records
Schedule, as defined in Diplomatic Security Records, Chapter 11. Moreover, there is
negligible privacy risk as a result of the degradation of information quality over an
extended period of time.
d. Privacy Impact Analysis: Describe how notice is provided to individuals and how
the risks associated with individuals being unaware of the collection are mitigated.
The notice offered is reasonable and adequate in relation to the system’s purposes and
uses.
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9. Notification and Redress
a. What are the procedures to allow individuals to gain access to their information
and to amend information they believe to be incorrect?
SIMAS contains Privacy Act-covered records; therefore, notification and redress are
rights of record subjects. Procedures for notification and redress are published in the
system of records notice identified in paragraph 8 above and in rules published at 22
CFR 171.31. The procedures inform the individual how to inquire about the existence of
records about them, how to request access to their records, and how to request
amendment of their record. Certain exemptions to Privacy Act provisions for notification
and redress may exist for certain portions of a passport records on grounds pertaining to
law enforcement, in the interest of national defense and foreign policy if the records
have been properly classified, and to carry out protective responsibilities under 18
U.S.C. 3056. These exemptions are published as agency rules at 22 CFR 171.32.
b. Privacy Impact Analysis: Discuss the privacy risks associated with notification
and redress and how those risks are mitigated.
The notification and redress mechanisms, outlined in the Notice section above and 22
CFR 171.31, offered to individuals are reasonable and adequate in relation to the
system’s purpose and uses.
10. Controls on Access
a. What procedures are in place to determine which users may access the system
and the extent of their access? What monitoring, recording, and auditing
safeguards are in place to prevent misuse of data?
The Business Owner DS/DSS/ITA approves and authorizes use of the SIMAS system.
System accounts are maintained and reviewed on a regular basis. The following DOS
policies establish the requirements for access enforcement.
• 5 FAM 731 SYSTEM SECURITY (Department computer security policies apply
to Web servers)
• 12 FAM 622.1-2 System Access Control
• 12 FAM 623.2-1 Access Controls
• 12 FAM 629.2-1 System Access Control
• 12 FAM 629.3-3 Access Controls
The database enforces a limit of three consecutive invalid access attempts by a user
during a 15 minute time frame. After 20 minutes of inactivity, a session lock control is
implemented at the network layer.
The information system restricts access to privileged functions (deployed in hardware,
software, and firmware) and security-relevant information to explicitly authorized
personnel. The level of access for the user restricts the data that may be seen and the
degree to which data may be modified. A system use notification (“warning banner”) is
displayed before log-on is permitted, and recaps the restrictions on the use of the
system. Activity by authorized users is monitored, logged, and audited.

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Non-production uses (e.g., testing, training) of production data are limited by
administrative controls.
The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) uses an array of configuration auditing and
vulnerability scanning tools and techniques to periodically monitor the OpenNetconnected systems that host DS’s major and minor applications, including the SIMAS
components, for changes to the DOS mandated security controls.
b. What privacy orientation or training for the system is provided authorized users?
All users are required to undergo computer security and privacy awareness training prior
to accessing the system, and must complete refresher training yearly in order to retain
access.
c. Privacy Impact Analysis: Given the sensitivity of PII in the system, manner of use,
and established access safeguards, describe the expected residual risk related to
access.
Several steps are taken to reduce residual risk related to system and information
access. Access control lists, which define who can access the system and at what
privilege level, are regularly reviewed, and inactive accounts are promptly terminated.
Additionally, the system audit trails that are automatically generated are regularly
analyzed and reviewed to deter and detect unauthorized uses. (An audit trail provides a
record of which particular functions a particular user performed, or attempted to perform
on an information system.)
11. Technologies
a. What technologies are used in the system that involve privacy risk?
All hardware, software, middleware, and firmware are vulnerable to risk. There are
numerous management, operational, and technical controls in place to mitigate these
risks. Applying security patches and hot-fixes, continuous monitoring, checking the
national vulnerability database (NVD), following and implementing sound federal, state,
local, department and agency policies and procedures are only a few of the safeguards
implemented to mitigate the risk to any Information Technology. SIMAS has been
designed to minimize risk to privacy data.
b. Privacy Impact Analysis: Describe how any technologies used may cause
privacy risk, and describe the safeguards implemented to mitigate the risk.
All hardware, software, middleware and firmware are vulnerable to risk. There are
numerous management, operational and technical controls in place to mitigate these
risks. Applying security patches and hot-fixes, continuous monitoring, checking the
national vulnerability database (NVD), following and implementing sound federal, state,
local, department and agency policies and procedures are only a few of safeguards
implemented to mitigate the risks to any Information Technology.
12. Security
What is the security certification and accreditation (C&A) status of the system?
The C&A for SIMAS was completed November 30, 2009, and received a 36 month
authorization to operate (ATO). The new ATO expires November 30, 2012.
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