Supplemental protection for TOP SECRET in a GSA-approved container or vault secured with FF-L-2740 may NOT be required if the CSA has determined the area is security-in-depth.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only for SECRET

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that protection is risk-based and layered. When Top Secret information is stored in a GSA-approved container or vault (FF-L-2740), there’s a default expectation for strong safeguards. But the Contract Security Authority can evaluate the whole security setup and decide that the area already has enough layered protections—security-in-depth—so an extra supplemental protection isn’t required. If the area relies on multiple independent controls—like solid physical barriers, strict access control, monitoring, regular personnel reliability measures, and proper procedures—the CSA may determine that adding another safeguard inside the container isn’t necessary. This determination depends on mapping the actual security posture and documenting why the existing layers meet the risk level. It specifically applies to Top Secret, and it isn’t something that is automatically mandated or only relevant for SECRET.