Automated and enhanced background checks for the telecommunications sector
The telecommunications sector constitutes a critical part of national infrastructure. It underpins society’s digital communications, and a compromised network can have far-reaching consequences for citizens, businesses, and national security interests. With the NIS2 Directive and Danish Executive Order no. 963 of 27 June 2025 on security clearances in the telecommunications sector, stricter requirements are imposed on security, preparedness, and the management of personnel security. This also places new demands on how telecom operators document and follow up on background checks—particularly for employees, suppliers, and partners with access to critical systems, networks, and information. P-Secure manages the entire process digitally—from initial hiring or contract engagement to ongoing re-checks—with full traceability and in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
Compliance challenges in the telecommunications sector
Telecommunications companies must ensure that employees, suppliers, and partners with access to critical functions undergo appropriate background checks. At the same time, documentation must be up to date, consistent, and readily available as accurate, traceable, and audit-ready for authorities and regulators. In practice, this creates significant compliance challenges.
The telecom sector is characterised by:
• A large number of internal and external actors with access to critical infrastructure
• Roles with access to networks, systems, and sensitive data
• A need for documentation across the organisation and supply chain
• Long processing times for security clearances
This increases the risk of delays in hiring processes, lack of consistency, human error, and time-consuming administration related to controls, re-checks, and documentation.
Key features for the telecommunications sector
P-Secure automates and standardises key elements of the background screening process and adapts them to the needs of the telecommunications sector. Automation ensures that background checks are conducted accurately and on time, reduces the risk of human error, and significantly lowers administrative workload.
The solution supports, among other things:
ID and CV check
Identity verification, CV checks, and employment history, including documentation of gaps
Criminal record checks
Upload and check of a candidates criminal record
Reference verification
Verification of previous employment through references
Re-checks
Ongoing re-checks and follow-up when access conditions change
Recommended screening categories for background checks
P-Secure is working to establish a common standard for screening and background checks that can be applied across the telecommunication sector. Download our recommended screening categories for the telecommunication sector.
Regulatory requirements and P-Secure’s recommendations
The telecommunications sector is subject to specific requirements for security clearance within critical infrastructure.
Requirements:
- Identity verification (CER Directive)
- Criminal record checks (CER Directive)
Security clearance
Where roles require security clearance, P-Secure recommends conducting background checks aligned with the criteria for security clearance during the period leading up to its completion—thereby reducing risk during the waiting period.
Based on practices in the energy sector (Executive Order no. 1075) and the logic of the CER Directive, P-Secure recommends the following for other personnel groups:
- Identity verification
- CV checks—typically covering at least five years, including documentation of gaps
- Criminal record checks
- Driving licence verification for personnel operating vehicles or transport equipment
- Work and residence permit checks
This provides a comprehensive, risk-based decision-making framework that can be adapted to permanent employees, new hires, suppliers, and subcontractors. P-Secure supports compliance with NIS2 and CER and brings together personnel processes, risk management, and organisational resilience in one integrated solution.
NIS2 and national requirements
P-Secure supports compliance with the NIS2 Directive on the security of network and information systems, which sets requirements for how telecommunications companies manage personnel security and risks across operations and supply chains.
With P-Secure, telecom operators gain a solution that consolidates personnel security, documentation, and compliance into a single platform.
The need for modern background screening
Implement automated and compliant background checks
Requirements for security, documentation, and resilience in the telecommunications sector continue to increase. At the same time, organisations relying on manual or fragmented processes face growing pressure.
The benefits of automated background checks:
- Reduce administrative workload
- Shorten hiring processes
- Increase transparency and consistency
- Strengthen audit and internal controls
- Support ongoing compliance
- Apply across both employees and the supply chain
Continuous compliance
More than a one-time background check
P-Secure is not just a tool for one-off background checks, but a platform for continuous compliance:
- Supports compliance with Danish Executive Order no. 963 on security clearance for personnel in the telecommunications sector
- Supports compliance with NIS2
- Centralises all documentation—ready for audit and regulatory review
- Enables ongoing re-checks and access control
- Ensures compliance with GDPR
