Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information

The French Network and Information Security Agency (FNISA)
Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information (ANSSI)
created on July 7th, 2009.

The French White Paper on Defence and National Security, published on June 17th, 2008, has identified cyber attacks as one of the main threats to the national territory. Indeed, society’s growing dependence on information and communication technologies has made prevention and reaction to cyber attacks a major priority in the organisation of national security. This necessity has been underlined by several reports, notably those written by Deputy Pierre LASBORDES and by Senator Roger ROMANI.

In order to strengthen France’s capabilities to face the challenges posed by information system security, the White Paper on Defence and National Security has planned the creation of a French Network and Information Security Agency (FNISA or ANSSI in French, standing for "Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information"), in a similar way to France’s main partner nations. This new agency is placed under the authority of the Prime Minister and is attached to the Secretary General for National Defence.

One year after the publication of the French White Paper, the ANSSI is now established by a decree issued in the Journal Officiel de la République Française of July 8th, 2009 — the creation process being under way since January 1st, 2009. The agency replaces the present Central Directorate for Information System Security (DCSSI), and is assigned wider missions and resources.

The creation of the French Network and Information Security Agency is a milestone in the process of improving France’s capability to protect its sensitive information systems.

The core missions of the new agency are :

• To detect and early react to cyber attacks, thanks to the creation of a strong operational center for cyber defence, working round-the-clock and being in charge of the continuous surveillance of sensitive Governmental networks, as well as the implementation of appropriate defence mechanisms ;

• To prevent threats by supporting the development of trusted products and services for Governmental entities and economic actors ;

• To provide reliable advice and support to Governmental entities and operators of Critical Infrastructure ;

• To keep companies and the general public informed about information security threats and the related means of protection through an active communication policy.

Press release