All staff, consultants and contractors must complete, prior to taking up their posts, the HMG baseline standard checks to positively establish identity and obtain background information on the subject by taking up references. The checks are regarded as providing sufficient assurance as to reliability and integrity for an individual to have access to UK material marked Restricted and Confidential, and occasional access to Secret material. Satisfactory completion of the baseline standard procedures is also required before an individual is issued with a permanent pass for departmental buildings and before an individual is given access to any of the Department's IT systems.
In addition to the baseline standard, individuals who require access to the Department's sensitive IT systems or processes, including for IT audit purposes, may in some circumstances require Security Check (SC) clearance. Any such requirements for SC clearance, for IT audit or any other purposes are determined on a case by case basis.