Under which circumstance is a restricted area normally established to protect classified information?

• A. When it is necessary to control access to classified information in an open area during working hours and it is impractical or impossible to protect the information by simply covering it or turning it over because of its size, quantity, or other unusual characteristic.
• B. When the information is small and easy to cover.
• C. Only for hand-carried documents.
• D. Only in secure storage containers.

Answer: (A)

Establishing a restricted area is used when classified information is out in the open in a workspace during working hours and you can’t realistically protect it just by covering or turning it over because of its size, quantity, or other unusual characteristics. In such cases, controlling who can enter the space prevents unauthorized access to the information that can’t be shielded by simpler methods.

If the information is small and easy to cover, or if it’s limited to hand-carried documents, or if everything is kept secure in storage containers, a restricted area isn’t normally needed. The deciding factor is whether covering is practical; when it isn’t, a restricted area provides the appropriate level of access control.