Which classification level corresponds to unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause SERIOUS DAMAGE to national security?

Which classification level corresponds to unauthorized disclosure could reasonably be expected to cause SERIOUS DAMAGE to national security?

• A. Confidential
• B. Secret
• C. Top Secret
• D. Unclassified

Answer: (B)

Information is categorized by the potential impact of its disclosure. The phrase “could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to national security” maps to the Secret level. At the Confidential level, disclosure could cause damage but not as severe as serious. Unclassified means disclosure wouldn’t warrant protective marking. Top Secret is reserved for information whose unauthorized disclosure would cause exceptionally grave damage, which is more severe than “serious.” So the level described by the prompt is Secret.

Information is categorized by the potential impact of its disclosure. The phrase “could reasonably be expected to cause serious damage to national security” maps to the Secret level. At the Confidential level, disclosure could cause damage but not as severe as serious. Unclassified means disclosure wouldn’t warrant protective marking. Top Secret is reserved for information whose unauthorized disclosure would cause exceptionally grave damage, which is more severe than “serious.” So the level described by the prompt is Secret.