easyMultiple Choice
200-201 Practice Question: An organization's data classification policy…
An organization's data classification policy defines four levels: Public, Internal, Confidential, and Restricted. An employee accidentally sends an email containing customer payment card information (PCI) to the entire company mailing list. The data should have been classified as which level?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap is confusing Confidential with Restricted — candidates often pick Confidential because it sounds highly sensitive, but PCI data maps to the highest tier (Restricted) due to regulatory and financial impact.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Restricted
Payment card information is regulated by PCI DSS and, in most data classification schemes, falls under the highest sensitivity tier — Restricted — because exposure triggers regulatory notification, fines, and identity-theft risk. Restricted is reserved for data whose unauthorized disclosure causes severe legal, financial, or reputational harm, which PCI data clearly qualifies as. Confidential is typically a tier below Restricted and covers internal sensitive data not subject to the same regulatory penalties.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
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Public
Why it's wrong here
Payment card data carries regulatory and contractual handling obligations, placing it at the highest tier. Public covers information approved for unrestricted release; PCI data would be Restricted, so treating it as Public ignores the breach of confidentiality the misdirected email caused.
- ✓
Restricted
Why this is correct
Payment card data is regulated by PCI DSS, and the Restricted tier is reserved for data whose disclosure causes severe legal, financial or regulatory harm. Customer card numbers therefore demand the highest classification, not Confidential or Internal.
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Internal
Why it's wrong here
Internal covers data whose disclosure causes limited harm, not payment card data, which mandates strict handling under PCI DSS. It is tempting because the mailing list is company-wide, but Internal still permits broad employee access; Restricted is required for cardholder data, limiting access to authorised personnel only.
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Confidential
Why it's wrong here
Confidential protects sensitive business data, but payment card information demands the highest tier because PCI DSS imposes strict handling and access limits. Confidential is tempting as it sounds severe, yet it permits wider internal sharing than cardholder data allows; Restricted is the correct classification here.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official Cisco exam blueprint
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