D.5.1 - Foreign affairs
Foreign Affairs refers to those activities associated with the implementation of foreign policy and diplomatic relations, including the operation of embassies, consulates, and other posts; ongoing membership in international organizations; the development of cooperative frameworks to improve relations with other Nations; and the development of treaties and agreements.
Conflict resolution involves the mitigation and prevention of disputes stemming from inter and intra-state disagreements. Some conflict resolution information is subject to security classification. This classified information is treated under separate rules established for national security information and is outside the scope of this guideline. Treaties and agreements involves the negotiation and implementation of accords with foreign governments and organizations in efforts related to arms reduction and regulation, trade matters, criminal investigations and extraditions, and other various types of foreign policy. When treaties and agreements information affects intelligence gathering and/or law enforcement cooperation, impacts to such information and the information systems that process and store the information could result in negative impacts on protection of a broad range of critical infrastructures and key national assets. Some information associated with treaties and agreements is subject to security classification. This classified information is treated under separate rules established for national security information. The recommended categorization for unclassified foreign affairs information follows:
Security category
Confidentiality High
The confidentiality impact level is the effect of unauthorized disclosure of conflict resolution information on the ability of responsible agencies to mitigate and prevent disputes stemming from inter and intra-state disagreements. Unauthorized disclosure of conflict resolution information can reasonably be expected to jeopardize fulfillment of conflict resolution missions. This is particularly true of premature release of resolution factors, personnel profiles, and proposed solutions to adversaries. Some information that has supported a conflict resolution process may undo the results of successful conflict resolution processes. The loss of public confidence in the agency may cause a catastrophic adverse effect on an agency's mission capability. Where information includes candid opinions of agency personnel, or involvement of agency personnel in specific prior activities, the effectiveness of those personnel for many future agency missions may be permanently impaired. The consequences of failed conflict resolution activities may pose threats to human life and major property assets The level of confidentiality impact assigned to treaties and agreements information is determined by the ability of responsible agencies to negotiate and implement accords with foreign governments and organizations in efforts related to arms reduction and regulation, trade matters, criminal investigations and extraditions, and other types of foreign policy. Unauthorized disclosure of information associated with treaties and agreements can reasonably be expected to prevent successful negotiation and/or ratification of treaties and agreements. This is particularly true of prematurely released resolution factors, personality assessments, and proposed solutions to adversaries. Some information that has supported a treaty or other international agreement process may undo the results of a successfully completed treaty or agreement. The subsequent threat to public confidence in the agency can cause a catastrophic adverse effect on an agency's mission capability. When the disclosed information includes candid opinions of agency personnel, or background information on agency personnel, the effectiveness of those personnel for future agency missions may be permanently impaired. The consequences of failure to successfully conclude treaties and other international agreements often pose threats to human life and major property assets. Recommended Confidentiality Impact Level: The provisional confidentiality impact level recommended for foreign affairs information is high.
Integrity High
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. The consequences of unauthorized modification or destruction of conflict resolution information depend on whether the information is time-critical. The consequences of unauthorized modification or destruction of information associated with treaties and agreements also depend on the time-critical nature of the information. The unauthorized modification or destruction of information affecting external communications (e.g., web pages, electronic mail) may affect operations and/or public confidence in the agency, but the damage to the mission would usually be limited. The unauthorized modification or destruction of information affecting conflict resolution information may adversely affect mission operations in a manner that results in unacceptable consequences such as loss of human life and/or major property assets. The consequences of unauthorized modification or destruction of information can be very serious if the modification is to time-critical operational information. Recommended Integrity Impact Level: The provisional integrity impact level recommended for foreign affairs information is high.
Availability Moderate
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 foreign affairs information. Special Factors Affecting Availability Impact Determination: Diplomatic missions are often tolerant of delays. Therefore, the availability impact level assigned to information associated with treaties and agreements that are associated with diplomatic missions is low. Where this is not the case, the availability impact for foreign affairs information associated with treaties and agreements may be high. Recommended Availability Impact Level: The provisional availability impact level recommended for foreign affairs information is moderate.