Its main responsibilities include internal and border security, counter-intelligence, counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, fighting organized crime, and surveillance.

Its activity is formally overseen by the Office of the Prosecutor General, although in practice the external oversight of the SCNS is virtually non-existent.

[3] Following a daring escape of 25 inmates from the SCNS high-security detention center in Dushanbe on August 23, 2010, Abdurakhimov and his four deputies filed resignations letters.

On September 2, 2010, president Emomali Rahmon signed the resignation letters, appointing Lieutenant General Saymumin Yatimov, one of Abdurakhimov's deputies, as the chairperson of the SCNS.

The SCNS has separate departments (Russian: управление) responsible for foreign espionage, counter-intelligence, political surveillance in the armed forces, counter-terrorism and counter-extremism, border control, economic security, protection of the top political officials, censorship and surveillance, economic security, personnel, and investigation.