Information security
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New Zealand Government Security Classification System
- Protecting official information from unauthorised access and accidental disclosure
- Overview of security classifications
- Security classifications for policy and privacy information
- Security classifications for national security information
- Identifying national security information
- Security classifications for Cabinet documents
- Security classifications for information from foreign governments
- Endorsement and compartmented markings
- Guidelines for protective markings
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Handling requirements for protectively-marked information and equipment
- Applying protective markings to official information
- Controlling and handling official information with protective markings
- Reproducing protectively-marked information
- Removing protected material from your premises
- Transferring or transporting protectively-marked information
- Destroying protectively-marked information securely
- Quick guides to handling protectively-marked information and assets
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Security classifications for national security information
This section covers the RESTRICTED, CONFIDENTIAL, SECRET, and TOP SECRET security classifications.
RESTRICTED
Use the RESTRICTED security classification when the compromise of information would be likely to adversely affect the national interest.
For instance, where compromise could:
- adversely affect diplomatic relations
- hinder the operational effectiveness or security of New Zealand or friendly forces
- hinder the security of New Zealand forces or friendly forces
- adversely affect the internal stability or economic wellbeing of New Zealand or friendly countries.
CONFIDENTIAL
Use the CONFIDENTIAL security classification when the compromise of information would cause significant damage to the national interest.
For instance, where compromise could:
- greatly damage diplomatic relations and cause formal protest or other sanctions
- damage the operational effectiveness of New Zealand forces or friendly forces
- damage the security of New Zealand forces or friendly forces
- damage the effectiveness of valuable security or intelligence operations
- damage the internal stability of New Zealand or friendly countries
- disrupt significant national infrastructure.
SECRET
Use the SECRET security classification when the compromise of information would cause serious damage to the national interest.
For instance, where compromise could:
- raise international tension
- seriously damage relations with friendly governments
- seriously damage the security of New Zealand forces or friendly forces
- seriously damage the operational effectiveness of New Zealand forces or friendly forces
- seriously damage the effectiveness of valuable security or intelligence operations
- seriously damage the internal stability of New Zealand or friendly countries
- shut down or substantially disrupt significant national infrastructure.
TOP SECRET
Use the TOP SECRET security classification when the compromise of information would cause exceptionally grave damage to the national interest.
For instance, where compromise could:
- threaten the internal stability of New Zealand or friendly countries
- lead directly to widespread loss of life
- cause exceptional damage to the security of New Zealand or allies
- cause exceptional damage to the operational effectiveness of New Zealand forces or friendly forces
- cause exceptional damage to the continuing effectiveness of extremely valuable security or intelligence operations
- cause exceptional damage to relations with other governments
- cause severe long-term damage to significant national infrastructure.
Page last modified: 5/08/2019