Guidelines for communications infrastructure
53 controls · September 2026 edition
- ISM-0181 · Cabling infrastructure standards
Cabling infrastructure is installed in accordance with relevant Australian Standards, as directed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
- ISM-0187 · Common cable bundles and conduits
SECRET cables, when bundled together or run in conduit, are run exclusively in their own individual cable bundle or conduit.
- ISM-0194 · Sealing cable reticulation systems and conduits
In shared facilities, a visible smear of conduit glue is used to seal all plastic conduit joints and TOP SECRET conduits connected by threaded lock nuts.
- ISM-0195 · Sealing cable reticulation systems and conduits
In shared facilities, uniquely identifiable SCEC-approved tamper-evident seals are used to seal all removable covers on TOP SECRET cable reticulation systems.
- ISM-0198 · Audio secure rooms
When penetrating a TOP SECRET audio secure room, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is consulted and all directions provided are complied with.
- ISM-0201 · Labelling conduits
Labels for TOP SECRET conduits are a minimum size of 2.5 cm x 1 cm, attached at five-metre intervals and marked as ‘TS RUN’.
- ISM-0206 · Cable labelling processes and procedures
Cable labelling processes, and supporting cable labelling procedures, are developed, implemented and maintained.
- ISM-0208 · Cable register
A cable register contains the following for each cable:
- ISM-0211 · Cable register
A cable register is developed, implemented, maintained and regularly verified.
- ISM-0213 · Terminating cables on patch panels
SECRET and TOP SECRET cables are terminated on their own individual patch panels.
- ISM-0216 · Physical separation of cabinets and patch panels
TOP SECRET patch panels are installed in individual TOP SECRET cabinets.
- ISM-0217 · Physical separation of cabinets and patch panels
Where spatial constraints demand non-TOP SECRET patch panels be installed in the same cabinet as a TOP SECRET patch panel:
- ISM-0218 · Fly lead installation
If TOP SECRET fibre-optic fly leads exceeding five metres in length are used to connect wall outlet boxes to IT equipment, they are run in a protective and easily inspected pathway that is clearly labelled at the IT equipment end with the wall outlet box’s identifier.
- ISM-0246 · Emanation security risk assessments
When an emanation security risk assessment is required, it is sought as early as possible in a system’s life cycle.
- ISM-0249 · Emanation security risk assessments
System owners deploying SECRET or TOP SECRET systems in mobile platforms, or as a deployable capability, contact ASD for an emanation security risk assessment.
- ISM-0250 · Electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility standards
IT equipment meets industry and government standards relating to electromagnetic interference/electromagnetic compatibility.
- ISM-0926 · Cable colours
Non-classified, OFFICIAL: Sensitive and PROTECTED cables are coloured neither salmon pink nor red.
- ISM-1095 · Labelling wall outlet boxes
Wall outlet boxes denote the systems, cable identifiers and wall outlet box identifier.
- ISM-1096 · Labelling cables
Cables are labelled at each end with sufficient source and destination details to enable the physical identification and inspection of the cable.
- ISM-1098 · Terminating cables in cabinets
SECRET cables are terminated in an individual cabinet; or for small systems, a cabinet with a division plate between any SECRET cables and non-SECRET cables.
- ISM-1100 · Terminating cables in cabinets
TOP SECRET cables are terminated in an individual TOP SECRET cabinet.
- ISM-1101 · Connecting cable reticulation systems to cabinets
In TOP SECRET areas, cable reticulation systems leading into cabinets in server rooms or communications rooms are terminated as close as possible to the cabinet.
- ISM-1102 · Connecting cable reticulation systems to cabinets
Cable reticulation systems leading into cabinets are terminated as close as possible to the cabinet.
- ISM-1103 · Connecting cable reticulation systems to cabinets
In TOP SECRET areas, cable reticulation systems leading into cabinets not in server rooms or communications rooms are terminated at the boundary of the cabinet.
- ISM-1105 · Wall outlet boxes
SECRET and TOP SECRET wall outlet boxes contain exclusively SECRET or TOP SECRET cables.
- ISM-1107 · Wall outlet box colours
Non-classified, OFFICIAL: Sensitive and PROTECTED wall outlet boxes are coloured neither salmon pink nor red.
- ISM-1109 · Wall outlet box covers
Wall outlet box covers are clear plastic.
- ISM-1111 · Use of fibre-optic cables
Fibre-optic cables are used for cabling infrastructure instead of copper cables.
- ISM-1112 · Cable inspectability
Cables in non-TOP SECRET areas are inspectable every five metres or less.
- ISM-1114 · Common cable reticulation systems
Cable bundles or conduits sharing a common cable reticulation system have a dividing partition or visible gap between each cable bundle and conduit.
- ISM-1115 · Cables in walls
Cables from cable trays to wall outlet boxes are run in flexible or plastic conduit.
- ISM-1116 · Physical separation of cabinets and patch panels
A visible gap exists between TOP SECRET cabinets and non-TOP SECRET cabinets.
- ISM-1119 · Cable inspectability
Cables in TOP SECRET areas are fully inspectable for their entire length.
- ISM-1122 · Wall penetrations
Where wall penetrations exit a TOP SECRET area into a lower classified area, TOP SECRET cables are encased in conduit with all gaps between the TOP SECRET conduit and the wall filled with an appropriate sealing compound.
- ISM-1123 · Power reticulation
A power distribution board with a feed from an Uninterruptible Power Supply is used to power all TOP SECRET IT equipment.
- ISM-1130 · Enclosed cable reticulation systems
In shared facilities, cables are run in an enclosed cable reticulation system.
- ISM-1133 · Cables in party walls
In shared facilities, TOP SECRET cables are not run in party walls.
- ISM-1137 · Emanation security risk assessments
System owners deploying SECRET or TOP SECRET systems within fixed facilities contact ASD for an emanation security risk assessment.
- ISM-1164 · Covers for enclosed cable reticulation systems
In shared facilities, conduits or the front covers of ducts, cable trays in floors and ceilings, and associated fittings are clear plastic.
- ISM-1216 · Cable colour non-conformance
SECRET and TOP SECRET cables with non-conformant cable colouring are banded with the appropriate colour and labelled at inspection points.
- ISM-1639 · Labelling building management cables
Building management cables are labelled with their purpose in black writing on a yellow background, with a minimum size of 2.5 cm x 1 cm, and attached at five-metre intervals.
- ISM-1640 · Labelling cables for foreign systems in Australian facilities
Cables for foreign systems installed in Australian facilities are labelled at inspection points.
- ISM-1645 · Floor plan diagrams
Floor plan diagrams are developed, implemented, maintained and regularly verified.
- ISM-1646 · Floor plan diagrams
Floor plan diagrams contain the following:
- ISM-1718 · Cable colours
SECRET cables are coloured salmon pink.
- ISM-1719 · Cable colours
TOP SECRET cables are coloured red.
- ISM-1720 · Wall outlet box colours
SECRET wall outlet boxes are coloured salmon pink.
- ISM-1721 · Wall outlet box colours
TOP SECRET wall outlet boxes are coloured red.
- ISM-1820 · Cable colours
Cables for individual systems use a consistent colour.
- ISM-1821 · Common cable bundles and conduits
TOP SECRET cables, when bundled together or run in conduit, are run exclusively in their own individual cable bundle or conduit.
- ISM-1822 · Wall outlet box colours
Wall outlet boxes for individual systems use a consistent colour.
- ISM-1884 · Emanation security doctrine
Emanation security doctrine produced by ASD for the management of emanation security matters is complied with.
- ISM-1885 · Emanation security risk assessments
Recommended actions contained within emanation security mitigation advice issued for systems are implemented by system owners.
Official control wording and applicability: Australian Signals Directorate, © Commonwealth of Australia 2026. September 2026 ISM, OSCAL v2026.09.4, reproduced under CC BY 4.0. Formatting is adapted for this website.
Latticework Systems’ implementation guidance is our interpretation. Provenance and scope.