Data classification at UT (the bare bones)

See the full Data Classification policy

The objective of this standard is to assist data stewards, IT owners and custodians in the assessment of information systems to determine what level of security is required to protect data on the systems for which they are responsible. The standard divides data into three categories:

CONFIDENTIAL (historically referred to as Category I)
CONTROLLED (historically referred to as Category II)
PUBLISHED (historically referred to as Category III)

This standard exists in addition to all other university policies and federal and state regulations governing the protection of the university's data. Compliance with this classification standard will not ensure that data will be properly secured. Instead, this standard should be integrated into a comprehensive information security plan.

2. Scope

All university data stored, processed, or transmitted on university resources or other resources where university business occurs must be classified into one of the three categories. Based on the data classification you determine for your system, you are required to implement appropriate technical security measures to protect the data consistent with the university Minimum Security Standards. Confidential data has more stringent requirements than Controlled and Published classifications. All systems require some protective measures.

Note: Data that is personal to the operator of a system and stored, processed, or transmitted on a university IT resource as a result of incidental personal use is not considered university data. University data stored on non-university IT resources must still be verifiably protected according to the respective university minimum security standards.

3. Audience

All faculty, staff, student employees, contractors, and vendors working with University of Texas at Austin data.

4. Data Classification Standard

To classify your data, you must start by understanding what the classifications are. There are specific laws and regulations that govern some kinds of data. Additionally, there are situations where you must consider whether the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the data is a factor. Finally, consider that you may be storing information on more than one system, such as moving data between computers by CD or flash drive, for example. If you rate only your primary computer as Confidential, but not your secondary computer or the transfer media, the secondary computer could put data at risk because it won't be well protected.

4.1. Confidential Data

University data protected specifically by federal or state law or University of Texas rules and regulations (e.g., HIPAA; FERPA; U.S. Export Controlled information; Sarbanes-Oxley, Gramm-Leach-Bliley; the Texas Identity Theft Enforcement and Protection Act; University of Texas System Policies; specific donor and employee data). University data that are not otherwise protected by a known civil statute or regulation, but which must be protected due to contractual agreements requiring confidentiality, integrity, or availability considerations (e.g., Non Disclosure Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, Service Level Agreements, Granting or Funding Agency Agreements, etc.) See the extended list of Confidential data classification examples for specifics."

Cause and Effect of Confidential Data

Examples of How Data Can Be Lost	Impact of Confidential Data Loss
Laptop or other data storage system stolen from car. Research Assistant accesses system after leaving research project because passwords aren't changed. Unauthorized visitor walks into unlocked lab and steals equipment or accesses unsecured computer. Unsecured application on a networked computer is hacked and data stolen.	Long-term loss of research funding from granting agencies. Long-term loss of reputation. Published research called into question because data is unreliable. Unauthorized tampering of research data. Increase in regulatory requirements. Long-term loss of critical campus or departmental service. Individuals put at risk for identity theft.

Protect your Confidential data by applying the appropriate Minimum Security Standards.

4.2. Controlled Data

University data not otherwise identified as Confidential data, but which are releasable in accordance with the Texas Public Information Act (e.g., contents of specific e-mail, date of birth, salary, etc.) Such data must be appropriately protected to ensure a controlled and lawful release.

Cause and Effect of Controlled Data

Examples of How Data Can Be Lost	Impact of Controlled Data Loss
In addition to the above scenarios: Staff member wanting to be helpful releases information they are not authorized to share.	Short-term loss of reputation. Short-term loss of research funding. Short-term loss of critical departmental service. Unauthorized tampering of research data. Individuals put at risk for identity theft.

Protect your Controlled data by applying the appropriate Minimum Security Standards.

4.3. Published Data

University data not otherwise identified as Confidential or Controlled data (e.g., publicly available). Such data have no requirement for confidentiality, integrity, or availability.

Cause and Effect of Published Data

Examples of How Data Can Be Lost	Impact of Published Data Loss
See the above scenarios.	Loss of use of personal workstation or laptop. Loss of personal data with no impact to the university.

Protect your Published data by applying the appropriate Minimum Security Standards.