I try to understand the DoD 5015.02 standard, but can't find an answer for my questionL what is the difference between classified and unclassified records? Maybe someone can help. Thanks in advance, Miriam
The term "classified" records is a US term, other countries may use other terminology. Classified Information refers to sensitive information which is restricted by law or regulation to indviduals with a specific clearance for that level of information.
Classified records are used to support such a security structure, supporting different levels of security, e.g. Top Secret, Secret, Restricted, etc. These levels can be applied to records such that only people with the appropriate level of clearance may see the record. These schemes tend to be hierarchical so that if you are cleared for Top Secret documents you can also see Secret documents. This security is over and above normal read/write permissions and Supplementary Markings.
In order to fully support classified records the system must also support a classification scheme which can track how long a record has been classifed and downgrade or de-classify a record at the appropriate time interval, e.g. "Statutory requirement to declassify after 10 years".
A downgrade is moving a record from one level of sensitive to a lesser level of sensitivity, e.g. Top Secret -> Secret. A declassification takes the record out of the classification scheme altogether.
