Primary definition
Key held for use under specific operational conditions or in support of specific contingency plans. Source: NSA/CSS Manual Number 3-16 (COMSEC)
Also known asbackup key · emergency key · fallback key · recovery key · secondary key
2 sources cited4 related termsReviewed Aug 9, 2026
— Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015View source
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CNSSGC
Key held for use under specific operational conditions or in support of specific contingency plans. Source: NSA/CSS Manual Number 3-16 (COMSEC)
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015 · 2024
Cite this term
Permanent URL · stable across revisions
Election Security Glossary. (2026). Contingency Key. In Election Security Glossary. Retrieved August 22, 2026, from https://electionsecurityglossary.com/glossary/contingency-key
Sources
2 cited · last checked Aug 9, 2026
01
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015
Committee on National Security Systems Glossary CNSSI 4009-2015
High consensus
02
The Cyber Glossary
The Cyber Glossary
Multi-source
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