C.2.2.1 - Policy and guidance development
Policy and Guidance Development involves the creation and dissemination of guidelines to assist in the interpretation and implementation of regulations.
In most cases, the effect on public welfare of a loss of policy and guidance development mission capability can be expected to be delayed rather than immediate. As a result, the potential for consequent loss of human life or of major national assets is relatively low, since these most catastrophic consequences of impairment to mission capability can, in most cases, be corrected before they are fully realized. The recommended security categorization for the policy and guidance development information type is as follows:
Security category
Confidentiality Low
The confidentiality impact level is the effect of unauthorized disclosure of policy and guidance information on the ability of responsible agencies to create and disseminate guidelines to assist in the interpretation and implementation of regulations. The confidentiality impact of policy and guidance information is largely event-driven. Once a policy or guidance statement has been promulgated, most policy and guidance information is in the public domain. However, premature unauthorized disclosure of candidate policy and guidance material can result in disruption of (and inappropriate influence of special interests on) the policy development process. Special Factors Affecting Confidentiality Impact Determination: The effects of loss of confidentiality of guidelines during the formative stage can result in attempts by affected entities and other interested parties to influence and/or impede the policy and guideline development process. Premature public release of formative policies and guidelines before internal coordination and review can result in unnecessary damage to public confidence in the agency. This is particularly likely where the release includes unedited internal commentary and discussion. Delays can impair an agency's mission, but loss of public confidence can do serious and persistent harm to an agency's ability to effectively perform its mission. In such cases, the provisional confidentiality impact level recommended for policy and guidance development information is moderate. When the policy and guidance information is in the public domain, the confidentiality impact level becomes Not Applicable (NA). Recommended Confidentiality Impact Level: Although there are cases in which unauthorized and premature disclosure of policy and guidance information can result in serious consequences for an agency, most of this information is intended to be available to the general public. Consequently, the provisional confidentiality impact level recommended for policy and guidance development information is lo
Integrity Low
The integrity impact level is based on the specific mission and the data supporting that mission, not on the time required to detect the modification or destruction of information. Special Factors Affecting Integrity Impact Determination: Some policy and guidance information is time-critical. Unauthorized modification or destruction of information affecting external communications that contain policy and guidance development information (e.g., web pages, electronic mail) may adversely affect operations or public confidence in the agency, but the damage to the mission would usually be limited. Public confidence consequences can be expected to be much more serious in cases of agencies that have national defense, intelligence, or information security missions. In such cases, the impact may be at least moderate. Recommended Integrity Impact Level: The provisional integrity level recommended for policy and guidance development information is low.
Availability Low
The availability impact level is based on the specific mission and the data supporting that mission, not on the time required to re-establish access to the policy and guidance development information. Though some policy and guidance information is time-critical, the policy and guidance development process is usually tolerant of delays. 12 Recommended Availability Impact Level: the provisional availability impact level recommended for policy and guidance development information is low.