Information sensitivity determines who can access data and under what circumstances. Organizations may have privacy policies to increase security. Data can be graded based on sensitivity, and some information may need to be kept confidential. Some professions, such as doctors and lawyers, require confidentiality. Violations can result in penalties.
Information sensitivity determines who should have access to information, under what circumstances, and when. While the data could potentially compromise an individual or organization in some way, it is more sensitive and needs to be handled with care. Organizations with special information needs may have a privacy policy in place to familiarize staff with issues and increase the security of their data. In some cases, you may need to sign the policy to indicate understanding before people can access the information.
Data held by an organization in electronic or physical files can be assigned to one of several grades based on the level of sensitivity. Some information does not compromise companies if it is public and can, in fact, offer a number of benefits. For example, universities publicize enrollment numbers, making them available to anyone who wants to know them, at any time. Other information may be sensitive in some circumstances and may need to be kept confidential. Degrees of information sensitivity may vary.
Organizations concerned about information sensitivity need to think about who should be allowed to view information and what should happen if unauthorized personnel gain access. Enrollment details for university classes, for example, are potentially sensitive and should be limited to instructors, teaching assistants, administrators and academic advisors. In special circumstances it may be necessary to share it with other organizations, such as librarians who want to determine whether a student should have access to a classroom resource or mental health professionals who want to work with a struggling student.
Some professions traditionally have a high level of sensitivity to information. Doctors, lawyers, and religious officiants cannot share the information you provide confidentially, and they rely on this protection to access accurate information they can use to help people. Patients may not be open about symptoms and history, for example, if they think their doctors will share this with the rest of the world. Similarly, attorney-client confidentiality allows clients to speak frankly with their legal counsel about issues without having to worry about being penalized for it.
Public works can also have a high level of information sensitivity, as can those in research and development with large companies. Either way, the information could undermine an organization as a whole by highlighting vulnerabilities, warning competitors, or ruining a plan. Penalties for violations could include termination or prosecution, depending on the nature of the disclosure and the circumstances. These reinforce the sensitivity policy, providing an incentive for people to join.
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