An intelligence agency is an organization responsible for collecting information and conducting activities related to national security and foreign policy. There are many synonyms for intelligence agency, including spy agency, secret service, security service, intelligence service, and espionage agency. All of these terms refer to the same type of organization and are used interchangeably in different countries and contexts. The primary function of an intelligence agency is to gather information and create intelligence reports for policy makers and other government officials. They use a range of techniques, including espionage, surveillance, and data analysis, to uncover threats to national security and monitor foreign governments and organizations.