6-2.3 Record Designation

Some records warrant special designation and protection. The Postal Service uses four designations for such records: sensitive, critical, classified, and vital.

  1. Sensitivity of records measures the need to protect the confidentiality and integrity of personal and business information. The three levels in order of decreasing sensitivity are as follows:
    1. Sensitive.
    2. Business-controlled sensitive.
    3. Nonsensitive.
  2. Criticality of records measures the need for continuous availability of the records. The three levels in order of decreasing criticality are as follows:
    1. Critical.
    2. Business-controlled critical.
    3. Noncritical.
  3. Classified records are records that contain information about the national defense and foreign relations that have been determined under relevant executive orders to require protection against unauthorized disclosure. Classified records in the custody of the Postal Service are managed by the Inspection Service. There are three types of classified records as follows:
    1. Top secret.
    2. Secret.
    3. Confidential.
  4. Vital records are records that must be available in the event of an emergency in order to ensure the continuity of Postal Service operations and the preservation of the rights and interests of the Postal Service, its employees, suppliers, and customers. Loss of or damage to these records means that the Postal Service would not be able to re-establish normal business operations.
  5. The two types of vital records are as follows:

    1. Emergency operating records — Records that are necessary to support essential functions of the Postal Service during and immediately following a national emergency.
    2. Rights and interests records — Records that are maintained to ensure the preservation of the rights and interests of the Postal Service, its employees, suppliers, and customers.

If the designation indicated on a record is no longer warranted, the custodian may manage the record in accordance with the business rules for the required designation. Custodians may indicate the new designation on records, as appropriate, by placing a single line through the former designation so that it remains legible.