1. Scope
This Policy governs the GCSB Journal of Converged Security, published by the Research & Development Board.
2. Editorial independence
Decisions to accept, revise or reject a paper rest with the Editor-in-Chief and handling editors. The Governing Council sets the Journal's scope only and takes no part in decisions on individual papers.
3. Scope of the Journal
Papers must concern converged security, align with GCSB standards and the CSF-STRAT framework - ideally improving it - and offer clear value to the community and industry. Papers on medicine, agriculture, or general IT and security topics without a converged-security focus are not considered.
4. Peer review
- Review is double-blind: authors and reviewers do not learn each other's identity.
- Only approved peer reviewers may be invited. Every research and review article needs at least two independent reviews before it can be accepted, and the Journal system enforces this minimum.
- Reviewers confirm they have no conflict before each review.
- Authors cannot review or edit their own papers, and editors do not review papers they handle.
- Reviewer appointments may be publicly acknowledged or verified. The identity of the reviewer assigned to a particular manuscript is not disclosed to its authors or readers; manuscript assignments and private review content remain confidential.
5. Author requirements
Every corresponding author gives a valid ORCID iD. Initial submissions may be Word or PDF; final accepted manuscripts are supplied in Word.
6. Galley proof
Before publication the author receives a proof in the GCSB Journal template and has three days to approve it or request corrections. A paper cannot be published until the author approves the proof.
7. Publication and certificates
- Each published paper receives a reference number (GCSB-J-YYYY-NNN) and the author receives a publication certificate (…-C).
- Approved reviewers and editors receive an appointment certificate (GCSB-JR- or GCSB-JE-YYYY-NNN).
- All certificates can be checked on the public verification page.
8. Fees
There is no fee to submit or publish.
Policy authority: Research & Development Board. Effective date: 13 October 2026. Version 1.1 states the minimum of two independent reviews.
9. Policy control
- Approval authority: Research & Development Board, within the scope set by the Governing Council.
- Revision history: version 1.0 (13 October 2026) first issue; version 1.1 stated the minimum of two independent reviews; version 1.2 adds this Policy control section; version 1.3 (17/10/2026) distinguishes public appointment acknowledgement from confidential manuscript assignments.
- Review date: reviewed at least once a year; next review no later than 13 October 2027, and whenever the Journal's workflow changes.
- Precedence: subordinate to the Governance Charter (GCSB-POL-001), which reserves editorial decisions to the Editor-in-Chief. Author, reviewer and editor guidelines must follow this Policy.