[2] The Committee dates its establishment back to 1953, under the name of U.S. Communications Security Board (USCSB).

On October 16, 2001, President George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13231, the Critical Infrastructure Protection in the Information Age, re-designating NSTISSC as the Committee on National Security Systems.

[3] The CNSS holds discussions of policy issues, sets national policy, directions, operational procedures, and guidance for the information systems operated by the U.S. Government, its contractors or agents that either contain classified information, involve intelligence activities, involve cryptographic activities related to national security, involve command and control of military forces, involve equipment that is an integral part of a weapon or weapons system(s) or are critical to the direct fulfillment of military or intelligence missions.

Membership consists of representatives from 21 U.S. Government Departments and Agencies with voting privileges, including the CIA, DIA, DOD, DOJ, FBI, NSA, and the National Security Council, and all United States Military Services.

Members not on the voting committee include the DISA, NGA, NIST, and the NRO.