What Are The Authorized Places For Storing Classified Information?

All classified information must be stored in authorized and secured places. Classified information’s are very sensitive and important data so, only authorized person can access the information. In this post, you will get better indication what are the authorized places for storing classified information?

What is Classified Information?

Classified information is the very sensitive data or material of a government or international organization or agency that must be secured in authorized places. The information must be secured against unauthorized access in order to protect the national defense of a country.

For example, government policy and the number of weapons such as air gun, Bomb, Rifle, Launcher, Grenade are the classified information of a country.

Only authorized person can access classified or national security information because the data is restricted by government rules. If the information is mishandled or compromised, then criminal activities can happen.

What Are The Levels Of Classified Information?

Classified information should be protected against unauthorized disclosure or cyber threats in order to secure national defense and foreign relationships. There are mainly four levels of classified information such as Confidential, Secret, Top secret and, Restricted.

The national security of United States (US) has categorized the classified information in three levels such as Confidential, Secret, and Top Secret.

Confidential

Confidential is the lowest level of classified information. When confidential information is publicly disclosed by a third party, directly or indirectly, then it could damage the national security of a country.

Examples of confidential information are personal identification numbers, plans, prototypes, documentation, social security numbers and disciplinary actions.

Secret

This is the second highest level of classified information. When the information or material is unauthorized released, then it could reasonably be to cause serious harm to the state security and national interests of a country. So, this type of information is called secret information.

The examples of secret information are military plans, technological improvements and disruption of foreign relations are the secret information of a country.

Top Secret

Top secret is the top level of classified information or material which requires the higher level of security protection. When the information or material is unauthorized released, then it could be expected to cause dangerous damage to the state security and national interests of a country.

The examples of top secret information are national defense tactics, intelligence systems, and sensitive intelligence processes are the top secret information of a country.

What Are The Authorized Places For Storing Classified Information?

Classified information must be stored in authorized and secured places in order to protect from unauthorized access or disclosure or cyber-attacks. To access the classified information, the person must have authentication from the national security of a country or agency.

Typically, there should requires a formal security clearance from higher authority of national security to access the classified information or material.

If someone intentionally discloses the classified information without authorization, then it will be a federal crime under the Espionage Act and he/ she must be punished.

What are the authorized places for storing classified information? Basically there are some best authorized places to store classified information, which are as follows:

• Classified information store in authorized Computer Or Server
• Information store in authorized Individual’s Human Brain
• Confidential information store in authorized Individual’s Hand
• And General Services Administration (GSA) Approved Container

Authorized Computer or Server

The authorized computer or server can be the authorized places for storing classified information or documents. Only the eligible person of the computer system can access and store the classified information. The person can’t share or send the information to others or can’t use it for personal intention.

Who can access the classified information? There should be a security access control for who can access the information in computer systems.

The classified information must be encrypted before storing it on a server or in a database. Encryption is the process of plain text information being converted into a form that is unreadable to unauthorized users.

Read more about Encryption Process.

The computer or server must be secured in order to protect from unauthorized use and malware. Here we have mentioned some tips on how to secure your computer or server.

• Monitor Login Attempts
• Use strong password
• Install Antivirus Software
• Use license based Operating System
• Remove Unnecessary Services
• Use Two Factor Authentication (2FA) for Login
• Use authorized USB or HD for Data Transfer

Authorized Individual’s Human Brain

This is another authorized place for storing classified information. The human brain has the capability to store the valuable information or facts within a second and processes them in the form of memory. The human brain can grip the previous or currently happening events and store the information.

There has no chance to disclose the classified information from the human brain, if the man doesn’t compromise the information to others.

So, the human brain can be the authorized place for storing classified information. There is some classified information such as personal identification numbers, social security numbers, login credentials that can store the human brain.

Authorized Individual’s Hand

The person must be trustworthy and authentic, who is working with sensitive data of an organization or a country. The authorized person should be responsible for maintaining the security of classified information.

He/ she can take some protective measure to ensure the data security such as:

• Store the information in secured place
• Lock the device which stores the information
• Avoid to share information to other
• Entry restricted to your office room
• Don’t give hardcopy documents to other
• Guest aren’t allowed into your office room
• Secure delivery of confidential documents

So, the approved individual’s hand can be the authorized place for storing confidential information.

General Services Administration (GSA) Approved Container 

What are the authorized places for storing classified information? The classified information should store in General Services Administration (GSA) approved container.

General Services Administration (GSA) is an agency or organization of the United States government established on July 1, 1949. Headquarters of GSA is GSA Building; 1800 F Street NW, Washington, D.C.

General Services Administration approved containers are mainly used to storing the classified information, materials, documents, evidence, sensitive information, secure funds and weapons etc.

The classified information and other sensitive documents or materials of government or military are required to store in the GSA approved container.

The Federal offices, Government, Military, Universities, and Corporate Organizations are needed to store their classified information in GSA approved container.

Learn more about General Services Administration (GSA).

Conclusion

Classified information should stores in authorized places in order ensure data security of an organization or national security of a country. We have define what is classified information, levels of classified information and what are the authorized places for storing classified information? You have to make ensure the eligibility for access the classified information.