Security Classification Primer Much is heard these days of government secrets being uncovered, national security being compromised, and of sensitive information getting into the wrong hands. Most countries have a classification system to formalize state secrets and protect information from being used to endanger citizens. This article will familiarize you with the security classification system.

Although the exact number varies from country to country, there are generally five levels of security classification:

Top Secret: Information which, in the hands of the enemy would put the security of America at exceptionally grave risk. Individuals undergo meticulous investigation to receive the level of clearance necessary to view this information. Clearance must be renewed every five years.

Secret: Information which could cause serious damage if publicly available. Intense investigation is required for individuals with this clearance, which must be renewed every ten years.

Confidential: Information which could compromise the safety of Americans. Clearance must be renewed every fifteen years for individuals on this level.

Restricted: Information which could have undesirable effects if publicly available. Some countries (the US included) do not use this security level.

Unclassified: Not technically a classification. This includes all information that does not pose a security risk, which is available to the public.

All classified information, regardless of the level, is available only on a "need to know" basis. Therefore, an individual having Top Secret clearance may not be privileged to view all Top Secret documents, only those documents which are pertinent to his or her work.

When two or more countries agree to share information with each other they must agree upon a uniform classification system. The United Nations, NATO, and the European Defense Organization all have their own security classification systems.

One example of a country without a formal classification system is China. The Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China makes it a crime to release a state secret. However, there is only a vague definition of what constitutes a state secret; therefore the government has used this law to imprison journalists.

Private corporations make use of a similar type of security classification system when working with new product development teams, mergers, and the company's financial reports. This type of information is protected under trade secret laws. Employers can require their employees to sign confidentiality agreements and undergo extensive background checks. While corporate classification lacks the harsh criminal sanctions of the government classification, individuals who leak company secrets can be tried and punished in courts of law.

Many citizens live out their lives without a thought for the secrets their government keeps from them. The military is the largest employer of people with such clearances. It might surprise you to know that one out of every thirty Americans, or 3-5 million individuals are authorized to some extent to know state secrets. Of all individuals with such clearances, it is estimated that one in a thousand can be expected to compromise the secrets they are entrusted with, either out of blackmail, greed, or sloppiness.

Only those individuals in positions where it is anticipated they will be dealing with classified information may apply for security clearance. Once the candidate has completed the application phase a detailed investigation ensues. The applicant's background will be thoroughly examined by the Defense Security Service, and depending on the level of clearance needed, family members and relatives may also be scrutinized. The investigation phase can last up to a year or more. Candidates who pass this phase will then enter the adjudication phase. In this phase all information gathered in the previous two phases is reviewed and analyzed, based on thirteen factors determined by the Department of Defense. Allegiance to the United States and personal conduct are examples of areas that are considered. Four factors that are certain to lead to rejection of an applicant are:

1. Candidate was convicted of a crime and imprisoned for more than one year.

2. Candidate uses controlled substances.

3. Candidate has been deemed mentally incompetent by a health professional approved by the Department of Defense.

4. Candidate was discharged from the armed forces under dishonorable conditions.

Having a security clearance is nothing to sneeze at, and some experts say that having such a clearance can increase one's salary between $10 and $15K. It is evident that the ability to keep a secret is a valued commodity in this increasingly precarious society.

Copyright (c) 2006 Francesca Black

Francesca Black develops educational material for http://www.security-port.com and http://www.security-protection.net a top resource for locating security related RSS feeds.Bedsheet Bears The Image Of Jesus
After Before Global Picture Warming
Simple Wedding Dress
10 Day Detox Diet
Ab Perfect Workout
Big Black Sun Glasses
Earth Lord Map Middle Ring
Bid Home Loan Loan Mortgage Refinance United
Airfare Business Business Business Cheap Cheap Class Class Class Economy Flight Flight Flight Robot
2 Game Hunting Play Station
Nike Championship Basketball Clinic
Octopus Yacht Picture
Lp Gas Heater
1 16 Farm Toy
1 Day Design Spa
1 Doctor Series Who
Basketball Coaching Book
0 Interest
Catalog Home Shopping
Candid Teen
W7
0 Advance Apr Cash
1 800 Contacts Coupon Code
Dance Dance Revolution Mat X Box
Glasses Pfaltzgraff Rose Tea
Western Wallet
Philippine Literature During Japanese Period
Du Meter
Crystal Ball Image
Joseph Green
1 16 Scale Farm Toy
00 221 Lund Se Sweden
The Book Homeless Bird
Bear Berlin Zoo
04 Air Canada Vacation
Equipment Vending Wholesale
Role Of A Mental Health Nurse
Beach Bragg Fort House Inn Motel
04 Wrx
College Sports Store
Britney Fantasy Fragrance Spear
National Baseball Ticket
Yankee Baseball Schedule
Restaurant Washington Dc
Cancer Of The Mesothelium
150 Doo Sea Speedster
Yard Storage
Celebrity Network Shopping Watch
National Phone Directory
1840 1865 Fur Missouri Trade Upper
Food Nutrition Diet Therapy
Jesus
66 Radio Sports Wfan
Vegetable Appetizer Recipe
06 Snow Storm
1 8859 Charset Iso
School
Marvins Building Material And Home Center
Sports
Fur Buyer In Ohio
Child Red Shoes
Chicken Pox Adult
Adolescent Anger Anxiety Depression
Head Lamp Post Snowman
Mobile Shop
Postcard Secrets
Stillwater National Bank And Trust
Latest Celebrity Hair Cut
Google Image Map Satellite
19th Country Country England Inn Inn New Recommended Recommended Series
0 Cocktail Dress Size
Novato Chevrolet
1 Filter Mobil Oil
Jericho Tennis Club
0 Campaign Email Marketing Softwaresbox
Girl Red Dress
1 3 Adjustable Mortgage Rate
W31
000 To Rehabilitate Taxiways
Limpiezas Madrid
1 1 302349 Fm Radio Station
California Wedding
Ice Fishing Tent
Prosat Digital Satellite Receiver
0a Business Home Job Opportunity Work
Guide Guide High High Hikers Hiking Sierra Sierra Surrounding Upland Valley Yosemite
10 12 Garden Shed X
Earth Day Clip Art
Ut Lady Vols Basketball Schedule
Group Play Singing
Condominium Dallas In
Job Manitoba Site
Noeud De Chaise
Department Of Employee Relations
Hotel Italy Special Venice
Company Farm Insurance Life State
Ad Lib
Design Kitchen Uk
Bahamas Time Share Rental
Hiking The Inca Trail
Wholesale Clothing Enyce
Printable Picture Of Jesus
Ncaa College Hockey
10 Cd Wallet Visor
1 A Day Weight Smart
1 Cream Ice Team Volume
Card Earn Gift Online Paid Point Reward Survey
Double Bind
California Driving Home School Schooled
Data2
Swaroski Crystals
Care Day Dog New York
Perfumed Oil Lamp
Plaster Screw
Boy Toddler Toy
For Single
Coffee Cup Paper Wholesale
Motorcycle Heated Gloves
Las Vegas High Rise Condominium
0336 679 800 Number Phone
104 Fuel Oil Wholesale
0 Lux Camera
Fsn Fox Sports Southwest
Fur Vests
Electric Kerosene Lamp
Mtv Online Radio
Car Max Columbia Sc
1 Golf Volkswagen
07 Challenge Ea Madden Sports
Basic Ab Workout For Dummy
Konica Minolta Toner
Fitness Quest Easy Shaper
Kitchen Island Design Photo
Diamond Discount Earring Stud
1 1 2 Diabetes Type
Travel Airline Ticket Deal
California Travel And Tourism
Traffic Ticket Attorney New Jersey
London Paris
Head Rest Tvs
Cartoon Christmas Card
Brazil Travel Agents
Emmett Till Casket
Stock Market Timing System
1 Dtr
Chocolate Sheet
Hobby Stock Race Car
1 16 John Deere Toy
Again It Play Sports Wichita
Care Dog Wound
Hotels Staunton Virginia
Immigration In Office Texas
Paper Bag Vest Pattern
1 Nation Technology
Detox Flush Fruit
Against Drinking Driving Mother
Avalon Club New Night York
Crm
Cosmetic Surgery And Medicine Procedure Laser Hair Removal
Bag Canvas Louis Tote Vuitton
Cable Comcast High Internet Speed
Free Art Clip For Car Wash
Franklin High Nj School Somerset
Pottery Barn Faux Fur Bedskirt Espresso Queen
Electric Gas Pacific
City Tehran Weather
Corner Suzuki
Cooking Tip For Single People
Loseweight Diet
Box Office This Weekend
Oil Policy
Turkmenistan Newspaper
Cortez Fish Reef Sea
10 Chicago Restaurant Top
Garden City Kansas Newspaper
100 Construction Financing Loan
Spa
1 Ae Camera Canon
3a High School Football
Illinois Mesotheleoma Attorney
Colored Flower Girl Dress
P37
Allstate Life
Music Video Codes For My Space Profiles
Indoor Ramon San Soccer
Crew Position Yacht
Body Detox Home
Oil
Child Dance Party
Barbequebarbeque Cooking Fish Fish
Network Marketing Scams
0 Car Deal Finance
Fishing
Freebie Planners Free Printable Address Book Journals
10 Beautiful Magazine Most People People Top
Cheap Hotel Manila Rate Room
0845 Local
0800 Numbers
North Shore Animal League America
Career Planning Tests
Inventory Control Definition
06 Boy Friend Lisa Pool Summer
0 Apr On Cash Advance
Development Exercise Psychic
Brooklyn Md Real Estate
Foam Rubber Mattress Pad
1 1
1000 Sea Star Tissot
Farming
1 Corinthians Chapter 13
Card Christmas Free
Oil Pan Transmission
Indiana Fur Prices
Disco Clothes For Man
05 Disneyland Snow White
Florida Lead Mortgage
Free Invitation Party Pool Printable
1 2 Diabetes Diabetics Diet Miracle Ph Plan Revolutionary Type Type
Vegetarian Cat
North Houston Medical Center
0 0balance Card Credit Transfer
Vegetarian Body Builder Diet
1 2005 F4 Garden Meteor Part
Kitchen Tea Towel
Flower Pink Floyd
Vending
Newbery Book
Ticketing
Counseling Credit Debt Florida Management Services
Vending Hand Truck
Radio Station 730 Am
2006 Accommodation Bed Breakfast Character Guide Guide Leading New New Zealand Zealands
W19
W6
1032 Blower Deere John Snow
Auto Bad Credit Down Loan Money No
Bag Gusseted Poly
Condo In Fort Walton Beach Florida
1 1 Advance Advance Care Care Health Health In In Management Management V Volume
Canvas Camping Tents
China Map
Hiking
Nhl Hockey Team Logo
10 Dating Daughter Rule Teenage
Accessory Camera Shop Slr
1 Day Depression Journey Postpartum Sleepless Through Womans
0871 National Rate
1000 Hotel In Seattle
Diet Exercise Online Program
10 Essential Forex Trading
Adventurous Career International Job Seeker Strategy Work Worldwide
Fast Make Money Scams
Guide Hiking Superior Trail
Strapless Bathing Suits
1 8 Adjustable Gym In Little Playground Tikes
Golf
Hero Nbc Pilot Show Tv
Hotels Uk Com
Spokane Resorts
0 Down Payment
Kitchen Mexican Tile
Free Online Psychic Quizzes
News From Germany
L16
1 10 Rc Cars
Music Maker 10
Store
Pilates Band Exercise
Best Prices On Diamond Tennis Bracelet
Star Of The Sea Academy
Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate
10 Pound Chocolate Bar
Global Warming Article
Ipod
Petsmart Job Application
04 Advice Dating
Delete From Myspace Profile Video
Clarion Hotel Tucson Az
Massage Therapists In My Area
Com Health Insurance Oxford
Florida Electrical Contractor License
10 Britney Charlie Chocolate Factory
1 Year Wedding Anniversary Gift
Carrier Pet Side Soft
Bed Mattress
Cosmetic
Coffee Samples
Concord Mills Nc
Mrs Tea Maker
04 Airline Deal Travel
Vending Guide And Directory
Disney Mary Poppins Snow Globe
Career Entertainment Marketing Sports
Free Bollywood Mp3 Song
Airline Alaska Diseny Vacation World
W19
Box Business In Vending
Leather Back Sea Turtles
Etelecare Job Opening Philippine
Global Warming Causes Effects
Clearwater Condo Florida In Rent
05 Calendar And Us Holidays
Toshiba Laptop Computer
Clock Countdown Free Retirement
Banking
Kohler Ignition
100 100 America America Best Best Place Place Retire Retire
Monkey Royal
Search Engine Marketing News
1 California Health Insurance
Animal Nature Singing Sound Spirit Vision
893 Oil Pan
Distributor Nutrition Sports
1 Job Usa
Virginia Beach Car Dealer
Bike
Nj State Disability Insurance
Independent Medical Examination
Apartment In Austin
Celebrity Cruise Review Summit
Lady Shoes Wedding
Bike Spinning Rim
W2
Clubbing
Flag Football Rule And Regulation
Express Halloween Kentucky Store
00 Gauge
Swag Lamp
Meal Master Software
Gas Powered Electric Generator
Lonely Planet Dominican Republic And Haiti
Lake Winnipesaukee Vacations
City Furniture Indianapolis Value
Guide Horde Leveling Warcraft World
What To Look For In A Mattress
Section 8 Apartment Search
Retirement Planning Software
Mobile Water Tank
Bank Florida Foreclosure In Southwest
Apartment Rental Las Vegas Nv
Picture Of Emo Hair Cut
Sim Farm Demo
American Bedroom Drew Furniture
L31
Freebies
02 Bikers
City Public School Suffolk
Ppt On Customer Relationship Management With Inter
02149 Everett Girl In Soccer Team
Guitar Sheet Music Sweet Home Alabama
1 Georgia
Preschool Christmas Program Idea
Celebrity Hair Highlight
Credit Tax
Coppell Flower Gardening
Hertz Rent A Car New Orleans
0 Apr Credit Card
Compusa Coupon
Asbestos Mesothelioma Asbestos Attorney Mesothelio
Ferret Pet Insurance
Pajar Lady Boot
Condominiums Elizabeth City
Flannel T Shirtoddler
1310 Radio Sports Ticket
Free Jazz Radio
1 Click Dvd Copy Serial
Condominium Management Los Angeles
100 Financing Construction Loan
Breed Care Dog Grooming Guide Health History Owning Pomeranian Puppy Re Series Standard Training
Magnet Water Treatment
City In New Nyc Shopping York
Robert Jenkins
Farmers Markets
Iliotibial Tract
Gourmet Vegetarian Recipes
Cafe Del Mar Vol 2
07 Cricket Ea Sports
Healthy Hair Care
Crystal Radio Schematic
Boy Official Pet Shop Site Web
Holiday Lagos Private Villa
10 Depression Fact Great
Breakfast Brunch Restaurant
Fishing Hole
1 2 7 Boot Ugg
Chaise Microfiber Sectional
Dress Free Knitting Pattern
Maxim Jakubowski
A Full Body Massage Washington Dc
Customer Contact Center
Apartment
Animated Global Warming
California Psychic
Cold Drawn Tubing
Scuba Diving Magazines
Coin Machine Operated Vending Water
Ice Cream Freezer Case
1 500 6gb Ipod Ipod Mini Nano Song
Pet Shop Boy Tour Date
Cons Interest Mortgage Only Pro
1 100 Game Show Tv Vs
1 Cup Coffee Machine
Vitamin And Herbal Supplements
Easton Hockey Ice Skate
Chicago Group Singing
1 800 Dog Meds Pet
Fallacy Of Composition
Cable Ipod Tv
1 Bethlehem Christ From Jesus Life Mount Sermon Teaching Through Volume
Becoming A Vegetarian
Hockey Ice Protection Skate
Winter Park Ski Vacation
Northern Divers
Lindt Lindor Chocolate
California Real Estate Exam Preparation
Black Cole Cologne Kenneth
Detox Hydrocodone Symptom
Ipod Accessories Free Shipping
1 Book Career Guide Planning
Ecuador Guayaquil Newspaper
Animal Care Guinea Library Pet Pig Planet
Survivor Party Ideas
Baked Italian Meatball Recipe
100 Company Construction Top
1 800 Phone Directory
Free Mystery Shopping Site
Grill Monarch
Find Local Yoga Class
Business Show Vending
Livingston Furniture
Hospital Indianapolis Rehabilitation
Animal Baby Zoo
1 Apartment Dog Finder
Business Candy Entertainer Machine Vending
Attracting Bird Feeding Humming
Knife At Wholesale Prices
Buy Ipod Nano New
My Space Layouts And Codes
0 1 Apr Card Credit Year
Door County Wisconsin Bed And Breakfast
Self Contained Carpet Extractor
Christmas Hgtv House White
Pyjama Homme
Hobby Toys
1 Chapter
1 800 Lookup
1 Engine Mobil Oil
Beach Bridal Dress
Go Go Ticket
Cross Street Directory
1 800 Junk
Union Square Cafe
Academy Of
Breville Cafe Roma Esp8xl
007 Watch
Phone Psychic Psychic Reading Reading
100 Real Estate Financing
Definition High Information Television
Hotel
Losing My Religion
Wm A Rogers Silver
Medical Alarm For Elderly
Long Chinese Dress
Fish Pet Virtual
Humorous Wedding Cake Toppers
Jessica Simpson Dessert Lip Gloss
06 Dodge Charger
Consolidation Federal Law Loan Student
Body Car Car Fiberglass Part
Fitness Exercise
Background Myspace Profile Put
Florida Driving Class
A Charlie Brown Christmas The Making Of A Tradition
Cart Free Script Shopping
Migun Massage Bed
Cellular Phone Case
Business
Flower Shop In Hawaii
Attorney Hurricane Insurance
Marshall Field
W16
Bird Fischer Love
Video Rental Store Software
Top Ten Karaoke Song
Mtv
Atomic Clock
2 Brokeback Fur Mountain Trader Trailer
Airfare Bangkok Cheap Flight Ticket
Male Full Body Massage
Countrywide Home Loan Php Rate
Living
Comparison Comprehensive Shopping
Device Indiana Medical Sales
Business Gift Personalized Wholesale
Boot Ski Woman
Balinese Language
Las Mtv Real Vegas World
Cnn Global News Warming World
Ghost Font
10 Ankle Boot
Farmers Insurance Mailbu California
Piston Sportcraft Table Table Tennis
Cosmetic Dental Insurance
Accessory Cellular I730 Nextel Phone
2007 Global Warming
Hawaii Plan Trip
Diabetic Nutrition And Diet
Divas Entertainment World Wrestling Wwe
American Airline Flight Schedule
Rome Night Club
20 Minute Pilates Winsor Workout
Doctor Kiosk Office
06 10 21 Chef From Home Recipe Show Take
Can Cause Diarrhea Stress
Playstation Xbox
Coin Machine Operated Vending Water
Foreclosure Home In Highland County Florida
Add More Myspace Picture Profile
Too Short Dress
1 Antenna Live Station Tv
0 1 Balance Card Credit Offer Transfer Year
Diesel Man Wallet
Phone
Internet Marketing Site Strategy Web
Water
The Cheat
Jesus Miniseries Nazareth
180present Obituary Search
Detox Epsom Liver Salt
Montessori Schools In Ct
San Diego Main Post Office
Industrial Computer System
10 Manchester Street Hotel
House Mouse Toondisney
1 12 Doll Furniture House
Christiansburg Home Mortgage Mortgage Rate Refinance Va
Fur Hat Man Mountain
2007 Act Global Solution Warming
06 Xbox Cheat Madden X
Fake Louis Man Vuitton Wallet
Cabbage Casserole Recipe
Northwest Arkansas Airport
Bay City Times Newspaper Obituary
4 Year College In Georgia
Trium Mobile Phone
Chart Forex Free Trading
1 2 Art Art Business Business Career In Starting Volume War
1 2 Carat Diamond Earring Stud
Jersey Journal Newspaper Obituary
Baseball Guide And Directory
1 1 Cooking Cooking Course Dish Joy Joy Main No Volume
Business
18 Club Night Over
Free Perfume Sample In Canada
Estate Investment Note Real
Apartment
Medieval Wedding Invitation Wording
Hyatt Time Share Resales
Holiday In Indianapolis Inn Park Water
07 The Clairvoyant
1099 Free Software Tax
Natural Choice Usa
1 16 Farm Toy
Safety Coordinators
Directory Car Loan
Leesburg Virginia Golf Course
1 800
Thomasville Furniture Factory Outlet
Health Insurance Company In Oregon
20 Buy Cart Shopping Software
Australia Dating Internet
Broadway Tickets Buy One Adult Child Gets In Free
Anthology Cartoon Fiction Graphic Story True
Mesothelioma
Holiday Inn Vancouver Center
Flowers For
Starbucks Coffee Prices
National Weather Servic
Pilates Studio In Toronto
Chaise
1 800 Coupon Discount Flower
Chocolate Mousse Cheesecake
Directory Phone Service
Puma Shirt
Singing Group 702
Man Who Wear Earring
1 18 Rc Scale Truck
Coffee Arcade
1 8 Bronze Coat Dog In Shampoo
New Mexico Tech University
12 Atlanta Hotel
Motel In Gatlinburg Tn
Celebrity Formal Hair Style
1 3 Adjustable Mortgage Rate
Betty Crocker Cake Recipe
Shark Fishing Key Largo
Continental Airline Cheap Flight
Present Value Analysis
01 Mercury Cougar
Fine Cz Jewelry
Acme Auto
Becoming Jesus Life Lord Prayer Prayer Through Transforming
Niche
Benefit Flax Health Oil
Costume Jewelry Wedding
Coffee Cup Maker
Customer And Constituent Relationship Management C
Biker Jewelry Silver Sterling
Haunted Hotel Houston In Texas
Department Of Defense Contractor
1 5 Arm Calculator Mortgage
Cell Cingular Phone Razor
Medical Insurance Rates
Golf Mini Paradise
Health Insurance Birmingham
4t Dress Girl Holiday
News From Dominican Republic
Well Fargo Financial Bank
Saint John Nb Hotel
Chicago Condo In Loop Sale
Value City Furniture St Louis
Home For Sale Panama City Beach Fl
Glass Door Manufacturer
10 Celebrity Hottest Male Top
Needed Pool Room Size Table
Basketball Game History Short
Martha Freeman
Lacie Electron
10 Christmas Dress
Freebies
Home House Manufactured New
2008 Car Sport
Beauty Company Cosmetic Store
Baby Boomer Retiring
Lacrosse Field
1 1 302349 Login Myspace Rig
0 Advance Card Cash Credit
W37
Farm Field Guide Tractor Vintage
10 Dating Daughter Rule Teenage
Gas Heater House Tankless Water Whole
Ceremony Collection Knot Music Wedding
Geologic Map Uganda
18 And Older Night Club
Box Dance Dance Mat Revolution X
Maine Hotel And Motel
Hermes Wallet
1968 France Gall Music Shopping Track Yahoo
Hot Dog Vending Cart For Sale
Construction Kid Sign
05 Football
Contemporary Furniture Modern Quality
Consumer Reviews
Bahamas Cleo Davis L Nassau
Triple Layer Chocolate Cake
1 800 Meds Pet
L1
32792 Florida Park Winter
Dating Group Personal
Vending Machine Supplier Uk
Citrus Acid
Walm Art
10 Mandamientos
Ice Cream Birthday Cake
Christmas Gag Gift Make
Criticism Eating Meat Vegetarianism
  ¶ 9:07 PM