Identifying National Security Information

As the term implies, national security information is information that is relevant to the security of the United States. Controlled Unclassified Information and United States Government Classified Information are two categories of national security information. Information to facilitate the identification of national security information is provided below.

Classified Information

What is classified information?

Classified information is defined as that information which unauthorized disclosure could adversely affect the national security of the United States. This information is usually owned by, produced by, produced for, or under the control of the U.S. Government. To be classified, information must meet the criteria of Executive Order 13526 or prior orders for protection against unauthorized disclosure, and thus has been classified by the President of the United States or one of his designees. Federal regulations require that classified material be conspicuously marked with its designated classification so that its sensitivity is immediately apparent.

What are the classification designators?

Executive Order 13526 defines three classification levels. They are, in order of increasing sensitivity:

• CONFIDENTIAL
• SECRET
• TOP SECRET

How will I know the classification level of an item?

Each classified item should be conspiciously marked with its classification level. These markings may be handwritten, typed or stamped on the item. The classification level may be engraved, labelled, tagged, or otherwise afixed to an item. In addition to the classification level, items may bear additional markings, such as NOFORN, COMSIC, ATOMAL, NATO, WNINTEL, RESTRICTED DATA, COMSEC.

The classification level of properly marked documents will appear on the front and back covers, at the top and bottom of title pages, at the top and bottom of any page that contains classified information, and in abbreviated form, such as (C), (S), and (TS) at the beginning of individual paragraphs, following titles, and next to captions where classified information is present.

Recording media, such as CDs, DVDs, VCR tapes, film rolls, etc., usually are marked directly with the item's classification level. Cases and containers may be marked as well.

The classification level of equipment usually appears on tags or labels, or is painted, engraved, or otherwise permanently marked on the item.

Follow these links to images actual classified documents that have been declassified and provided here as samples.

• Teletype message
• Handwritten markings
• Stamped report

What designators might I see that do not indicate classified content?

There are many designators that do not indicate classified content unless accompanied by one of the classification designators listed above. Here are a few of the most common:

• FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO)
• LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
• RESTRICTED
• PERSONAL
• CONFIDENTIAL FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS (or other specific organization)
• PERSONAL & CONFIDENTIAL
• CLOSE HOLD
• DO NOT RELEASE UNTIL (date or event which is past)
• FOR COMMITTEE (or other specific organization) USE ONLY
• EYES ONLY

Controlled Unclassified Information

What is Controlled Unclassified Information?

Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) is unclassified information that does not meet the standards for national security classification, but is pertinent to the national interests of the United States, and therefore requires, under law or policy, protection from unauthorized disclosure, special handling safeguards, or prescribed limits on exchange or dissemination. CUI includes:

• Export controlled information, whether or not it is related to a classified contract
• Unclassified information that has been marked with U.S. Government distribution limitations, whether or not it is related to a classified contract
• All unclassified information related with a classified contract that has not been approved for public release

Unlike classified information, a uniform legal definition and handling instructions for sensitive unclassified information do not exist, making identification and control more challenging.

How might sensitive unclassified material be marked?

There are currently over 100 different designators that can be applied to sensitive unclassified information. Those you're most likely to see are:

• FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
• OFFICIAL USE ONLY
• LIMITED OFFICIAL USE
• RESTRICTED
• DOD UNCLASSIFIED CONTROLLED NUCLEAR INFORMATION
• LIMITED DISTRIBUTION INFORMATION
• SENSITIVE INFORMATION
• TECHNICAL INFORMATION
• SUBJECT TO EXPORT CONTROL LAWS
• SENSITIVE SECURITY INFORMATION
• PRIVACY ACT INFORMATION

Each marking may be preceded by “UNCLASSIFIED/”.

Documents may also contain a distribution statement that limits distribution to U.S. government agencies and contractors only for listed reasons, also stating which government office must approve requests for further distribution. For example:

Distribution authorized to the Department of Defense and U.S. DoD contractors only for critical technical data, 17 JUN 87. Other distribution requests shall be referred to the Naval Ocean Systems Center headquarters.

How will these markings appear on sensitive unclassified material?

Markings will be handwritten, typed, stamped, labeled, or otherwise affixed to the material. These markings might appear at the top and/or bottom of the front and back cover, title page, or individual pages within a document.

Recording media, such as CDs, DVDs, VCR tapes, film rolls, etc., is usually marked directly on the item. Cases and containers may be marked as well.