Covert Testing
Security Screening
Click here to see CNN's report on how covert testing works and why it's important to security.
As you may have seen, CNN was given access to a TSA covert test that was conducted on Friday, January 25. This test is one of thousands conducted every year by our experts and is a clear indication of the level of difficulty of our testing program.
This test was conducted using all TSA protocols in order to present an authentic look at the program, what it is, how it works and its purpose. The integrity of this and all TSA covert tests is of paramount importance in gaining a true understanding of the state of security at checkpoints system wide.
Although the Transportation Security Officer involved did not pass this particular test, it was a good opportunity to explain the true objective of covert testing (to test vulnerabilities of the system) and in no way is an indictment of the checkpoint personnel or airport involved. Covert testing evaluates one of 20 layers of security, the security checkpoint, using experts with inside knowledge and the latest intelligence information. As officers continue to improve at covert test drills, the drills are made harder. While this virtually guarantees low success rates, it greatly improves security at our nation's airports.
As TSA continues to engage in transparent communications, it is critical that we explain, to the greatest extent possible, how and why we do what we do and how these programs fit into our layered approach to security. This piece is an especially important one in that it clearly explains the tremendous benefit covert testing provides to our checkpoint screening operations and the traveling public.
Imagine going to work everyday and being tested on every spreadsheet you created, every sales call you made or every cup of coffee you served. For Transportation Security Officers (TSOs) from coast to coast being tested on each of the two million passengers and three and one-half million bags they screen everyday is a reality. Each day these officers must not only "pass the test" of screening legitimate travelers but they are also subjected to testing by no less than four separate, distinct organizations, half of which reside outside of TSA.
While there has been plenty of media attention lately on alleged success or failure rates of these officers, it's important to understand what covert testing is, why it's important, who does it, and how legitimate covert testing benefits security.
What is Covert Testing?
Covert testing in aviation security dates back to the 1970s when airport security checkpoints were first created. What started as rudimentary mock bombs and guns being snuck through the airport has evolved to highly sophisticated systems, used by expert testers with insider knowledge. These experts not only know the system better than anyone, they have the distinct advantage of not being subjected to TSA's 18 other layers of security in addition to the checkpoint. Today's covert testers are the best in the history of aviation in the U.S. and are testing security with items as small as a pen cap.
Why is Covert Testing Important?
Many people think the purpose of covert testing is to catch an officer missing an object. While this makes surprising headlines in newspapers and scares the public, the reality is that covert testing is a tool to identify vulnerabilities in the system and uncover weaknesses of training, procedures or technology. It is not designed to test an individual officer or airport but to act as a measure of system-wide effectiveness and drive improvement through training.
It would be simple to make covert testing nothing more than a rubber stamp of security, reverting back to pre-9/11 test kits and touting success rates in the high 90 percentages but that wouldn't provide the critical feedback and adaptive training input required to counter today's terrorist.
The 9/11 hijackers exploited a static system, one that was easy to navigate around and worked inflexibly. Today's covert testers are one of the best assets we have to continually raise the bar on security. In fact, as security officers adapt and begin to consistently discover covert testing methods, testers start all over again, creating more difficult and harder-to-detect tests. This years' long game of cat and mouse more closely simulates real terrorist probing and operations and keeps officers alert and informed of the latest techniques and improvements.
Types of Testing
Testing of officers takes many forms, some of these include:
- Threat Image Projection (TIP)- This electronic system randomly superimposes images of bombs and bomb parts into real carry-on bags. Officers can encounter a TIP image in any of the millions of carry-on bags at checkpoints across the country any time of day or night. There are tens of thousands of TIP images and the system is updated with the latest intelligence-driven threats added on a regular basis. Officers are evaluated on the images they detect and training is tailored to drive improvement in detection of threats across the system.
- Aviation Screening Assessment Program (ASAP)- These locally generated assessments use inert bombs, bomb parts and other threat items from checkpoint bomb kits to identify weaknesses in our screening process in order to strengthen screening performance through training, procedures, or technology. These items are placed on TSA or local, state and federal employees or in carry-on or checked bags; passengers are NEVER asked to conduct these assessments or any other TSA covert tests. Recently TSA completed over 4,500 assessments from coast to coast under this program.
- TSA's Office of Inspections (TSA OI)- TSA's Office of Inspections, led by Assistant Administrator Dave Holmes conducts covert tests around the nation with no notice to local or headquarters officials. These expert testers are trained in the latest methods of smuggling bombs, bomb parts and weapons through checkpoints using techniques acquired by national and international intelligence partners and gathered through years of experience. Airports are selected based on a number of factors, including intelligence, threats to aviation and the airport environment. All airports are subject to no-notice testing by TSA-OI. For safety purposes local police are notified the morning that testing begins. Only after testing starts is local TSA management made aware and officers are subjected to no-notice testing. After testing is complete, agents unveil the tests and discuss results with officers and local officials so that training may be improved.
TSA-OI also works closely with the Office of Security Operations to tailor training to address covert testing results on a national level, raising the bar on security and adapting to the latest threats and techniques.
- Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General (DHS IG) - The DHS IG conducts hundreds of covert tests at airports from coast to coast and acts completely independently from TSA. DHS IG agents measure the effectiveness of screening protocols and communicate these results to TSA and the Department of Homeland Security in order to increase effectiveness of screening and security. TSA uses these independent results to validate and improve training.
- Government Accountability Office (GAO) - With over 3,000 employees in offices from Atlanta to Seattle, the GAO, Congress' investigative arm, also conducts independent tests of airport security. They report their findings to Congress and share results with TSA. GAO results have led to increases of security through enhanced training and use of technology.
How Covert Testing Benefits Security
Covert testing is a critical element of the aviation security system. It measures effectiveness, identifies vulnerabilities, constantly adapts to challenge officers while incorporating intelligence in a useable way. Simply put, without difficult, adapting covert testing, the aviation security system would not be as effective as it is.
Some best practices developed as a result of covert testing include; placing testing bomb kits at every checkpoint in the nation to help officers familiarize themselves with bombs and components, enhanced scrutiny of shoes and other bulky clothing and many other significant enhancements.
