ISC2 CC Security Principles Practice Question
A company is implementing a data classification policy. According to best practices, which THREE of the following should be classified as 'restricted' or 'top secret'? (Select THREE).
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
✓
Classified government intelligence
Option B (classified government intelligence) is correctly marked restricted/top secret because it is information whose unauthorized disclosure would cause exceptional damage to national security and is legally protected at the highest classification levels. Option D (trade secrets) is correct because trade secrets are proprietary intellectual property whose disclosure would cause severe competitive and financial harm, so best-practice data classification places them in the highest sensitivity tier. Option E (biometric data of employees) is correct because biometric identifiers are sensitive personal data (often special-category data under regimes like GDPR) that cannot be changed if compromised, warranting restricted handling. The unmarked options do not belong: A (company cafeteria menu) and C (marketing brochures) are intended for public or internal distribution and carry negligible confidentiality impact, so they would be classified as public or internal, not restricted.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Company cafeteria menu
Why it's wrong here
A cafeteria menu is public information, carrying no confidentiality impact, so it cannot meet restricted or top secret handling requirements. It is tempting because classification policies do cover all organisational data, and low-sensitivity items still need labelling; however, menus belong in the public tier, not the highest one.
- ✓
Classified government intelligence
Why this is correct
Government intelligence material is classified at the highest tier because unauthorised disclosure causes exceptional damage to national security. Its handling mandates the strictest controls, so it belongs in the restricted or top secret category rather than internal or public.
- ✗
Marketing brochures
Why it's wrong here
Marketing brochures are deliberately published externally, so they carry no confidentiality requirement and cannot be restricted or top secret. Classification policies do cover all information assets, which makes any listed item look plausible; brochures nonetheless belong in the public tier, where disclosure causes no damage.
- ✓
Trade secrets
Why this is correct
Trade secrets derive their value from confidentiality; disclosure destroys competitive advantage and causes severe financial harm. This exceptional impact on the organisation places them in the restricted or top secret tier, warranting the strongest access and handling controls.
- ✓
Biometric data of employees
Why this is correct
Biometric data is permanent, uniquely identifies an individual and cannot be reissued after compromise, so exposure causes severe harm and regulatory penalty. That irreversibility and sensitivity place it in the restricted or top secret classification tier.
Go deeper
Related to this question
Key term
GDPR
The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union law that sets strict rules for how organizations collect, store, process, and protect the personal data of individuals within the EU.
Key term
Confidentiality
Confidentiality means keeping sensitive information secret and accessible only to authorized people or systems.
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JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
This CC practice question is part of Courseiva's free ISC2 certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CC exam.