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CESG has existed in one form or another for the past 80 years.
Its origins grew out of the dangers inherent in poor radio communications
security that became apparent during World War I. As a result
of severe security compromises that were experienced by British
forces during that war, the British government decided to set
up a special organisation both to study the methods of cipher
communications of foreign powers and to advise on the security
of British codes and ciphers.
In 1919, following a Cabinet decision, the Government Code and
Cipher School (GC&CS) was established (which was later to
become the Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)). The
GC&CS was originally set up under the civil administration
of the Admiralty, but with the decline in military signal traffic
after the end of World War I, it was then placed under the administrative
responsibility of the Foreign Office in 1922.
The communications security part of the GC&CS could only
advise on the use of the various cipher systems, but had no
authority to mandate government departments or the services
to use those ciphers and procedures which were really secure.
This weakness was recognised during World War II, and in 1944
clearer lines of authority were established, with the communications
security section of the GC&CS becoming responsible to
a Cipher Policy Board.
In the early 1950s, a review of the Cipher Policy Board's
organisation and terms of reference led to the creation of
a new agency, the London Communications Security Agency (LCSA).
The LCSA now had its own Director but still remained administratively
under what was by then GCHQ.
In 1965, the LCSA became the Communications-Electronics Security
Department (CESD), still based primarily in London, although
parts were now co-located with GCHQ in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire.
In 1969, CESD formally merged organisationally with GCHQ and
was renamed the Communications-Electronics Security Group (CESG).
In 1978 the last London elements of CESG moved to Cheltenham,
where it has remained to the present.
One of the more significant changes to CESG since the late
70's has been the move to operating on a cost-recovery basis,
rather than being funded directly by central government. Since
1997, CESG now charges for most of the information security/information
assurance services it offers.
Today Government turns to CESG as its National Technical Authority
for advice and services to protect its voice and data networks.
In this network enabled environment, Communications-Electronics
Security no longer adequately describes the full extent of the
organisations work, so in 2002 it was decided to drop the expanded
name. The title CESG was retained as it has an excellent reputation
as an independent technical organisation with a critical role
in keeping the Government's IT systems safe.
In October 2003 CESG moved into the new GCHQ/CESG accommodation,
which co-locates both under one roof for the first time in
the history of both organisations
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