What is the Difference Between a Security Clearance for an Entity and a Security Clearance for Individuals ?

Security clearances are always first granted on the level of the legal entity. That is what is called a facility security clearance. Only then can employees or personnel submit an application for an individual security clearance. That is what is called a personnel security clearance.

Submissions for personnel security clearances must thus always be linked to a company or administration that was given permission in advance to deal with classified information by the National Security Authority (NSA). 

In concrete terms, this means that:

• Companies must first request a facility security clearance
• while public administrations and international organizations should in advance be registered with the NSA 

As soon as this is done, employees can apply for a personnel security clearance through the security officer of their organization.