Photo: Ditte Valente
We generally distinguish between classified and sensitive information:
Classified information
When information is classified, the sender of the information has assessed that it may cause damage to Denmark or the countries within the EU or NATO if the information is disclosed to others than the intended recipients. The greater the potential damage, the higher the classification level. Classified information must therefore be protected in accordance with special rules. These rules are described in more detail in the Security Circular (in Danish).
It is typically ministries and government agencies that handle and store classified information.
Classified information may for example include intelligence reports or information on military plans and capabilities.
Sensitive information
Sensitive information is unclassified. Sensitive information can, in itself or in combination with other information, harm national interests in the event of unauthorized disclosure.
Disclosure of this kind typically also has major financial or reputational consequences for the organization in question.
Sensitive information may for example include negotiation stances, research results, rough sketches of high-tech solutions, etc.
In some cases, sensitive information may require additional protection and should therefore be classified.
Assess the value
It can be quite difficult to assess the value of your information. But there are some general questions you can ask yourself: What information can I not “afford” to lose? What will happen in the event of unauthorized disclosure? Will foreign states for example stand to gain an advantage in a potential conflict situation? Or will I suffer a financial loss?