The counterintelligence work of SOA includes gathering and processing data, and conducting various activities, with the goal of protecting state authorities, (including SOA itself), protected individuals, institutions or facilities which are of interest to the Republic of Croatia, and gathering of secret information regarding illegal activities of foreign intelligence agencies, organizations, groups or individuals.
The counterintelligence work of SOA does not consist only of ''catching spies'' but includes a wide range of operational and analytical measures and activities which are conducted in order to identify and understand the activities of foreign intelligence agencies, organizations, groups or individuals.
The counterintelligence work of SOA also consists of determining the protection priorities in order to implement appropriate counterintelligence measures and to neutralize threats to national security.
Counterintelligence activity includes gathering of data significant for prevention of the activities of foreign security and intelligence agencies and individuals who, on behalf of foreign security and intelligence agencies, foreign countries or international organizations of a security-military-political character, gather or possess data or knowledge, documentation or objects relevant for the national interests of the Republic of Croatia.