An authorized person means a cleared person who has been assigned this duty and, therefore, has a need-to-know.

• A. A cleared person who has been assigned this duty and, therefore, has a need-to-know
• B. Anyone with a Top Secret clearance
• C. Only the Facility Security Officer
• D. A cleared person who does not need-to-know

Answer: (A)

In safeguarding classified information, being authorized hinges on both a security clearance and a need-to-know for the specific duty. Access is not granted by clearance alone; you become authorized for particular information only when you are officially assigned to a duty that requires it. So the best description is a cleared person who has been assigned this duty and, therefore, has a need-to-know. Without that assignment and need-to-know, even a top-secret clearance doesn’t automatically grant access. The Facility Security Officer is a role that helps administer safeguards, not the universal gatekeeper for all information. A cleared person who does not need-to-know has no authorization to access the material. Need-to-know can change with duties, so authorization is tied to both clearance and the specific duty assignment.