Which manual contains guidance about generating and marking NATO materials?

• A. The National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual (NISPOM)
• B. The Information Security Manual
• C. The NATO Military Manual
• D. The DoD Instructions for NATO

Answer: (A)

Generating and marking NATO materials is governed by the National Industrial Security Program Operating Manual, which sets the standard for safeguarding classified information produced or handled by cleared contractors. It provides the procedures for how to classify, generate, mark, and protect materials, including those involving NATO counterparts, to ensure consistent handling across the industrial base. Marking NATO-related materials typically involves applying the appropriate classification level and any NATO-specific dissemination controls so that only authorized personnel can access them and so they’re treated according to contract and security requirements.

The Information Security Manual isn’t the primary reference for U.S. contractor safeguarding of NATO materials, as it serves a different national or sector-specific scope. The NATO Military Manual focuses on operational and tactical guidance rather than the industrial-security principles of generating and marking materials for contracts. DoD Instructions for NATO cover DoD-NATO interfaces at a broader level but don’t provide the core, contractor-focused guidance on generating and marking NATO materials the way NISPOM does.