Which of the following are forms of classified information that must be protected?

• A. Classified finished or final documents (paper or electronic)
• B. Classified working papers
• C. Classification-pending material
• D. All of the above

Answer: (D)

Safeguarding applies to classified information in all forms and stages. Finished or final documents, whether on paper or electronic, carry the designation and must be protected from unauthorized access. Working papers, the intermediate materials used during analysis or drafting, can reveal sensitive processes or decisions and also require protection. Classification-pending material isn’t exempt; items awaiting a decision about their classification can still contain sensitive content or hints about what the classification would be, so they must be guarded until a formal determination is made. Because each form involves information that could harm national security if disclosed, all of the above must be protected.