Intelligence Fundamentals Professional Certification Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The National Security Agency (NSA) is the agency primarily focused on the collection and analysis of signals intelligence. Signals intelligence, or SIGINT, involves the interception and analysis of electronic communications and signals from various sources, including telecommunications, radio, and internet traffic. The NSA plays a crucial role in national defense and security by gathering this intelligence to support military operations, inform policy decisions, and ensure the country's safety against potential threats.

This focus on signals intelligence distinguishes the NSA from other agencies. For example, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA) specializes in geospatial intelligence, which primarily involves imagery and maps used to inform military and intelligence operations. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) engages in a broader spectrum of intelligence activities, focusing more on human intelligence (HUMINT) and covert operations rather than solely on signals intelligence. The Joint Intelligence Operations Center serves as a collaborative hub for multiple intelligence agencies, yet it does not concentrate on the collection and analysis of signals intelligence like the NSA does. Hence, the NSA's specific mandate aligns it as the primary agency dealing with signals intelligence.