It is a republican body that elaborates and implements the policies of the government in the national security sector. By decree of the NKR Supreme Council adopted on 18 January 2006, the NKAO State Security Department was named the State Department of National Security under the NKR Council of Ministers.
The NKAO State Security Department is a republican agency that develops and executes government policies in the area of national security. In accordance with a resolution adopted by the NKR Supreme Council on January 18, 2006, the department was renamed the State Department of National Defense within the NKR Council of Ministers.