Which of the following are administrative sanctions related to derivative classification?
a) Fines and imprisonment
b) Revocation of security clearance
c) Mandatory training
d) Employee commendation
Answer: b) Revocation of security clearance
Administrative penalties exclude punitive and judicial measures that may be applied to any operational organization or agency for violations of rules, policies, or demands. When it comes to the aspect of derivative classification where classified information is used to develop other documents, revocation of security clearance is considered a severe administrative punishment.
Security clearance has been described as a status that permits a person to gain access to classified information. Many governmental and military jobs, along with a few jobs in private companies that deal with large volumes of sensitive information require polygraph tests. That is why the revocation of this clearance is a severe penalty that can lead to the complete termination of a person’s work in sectors that involve the protection of classified information.
For instance, if an analyst in possession of a Top-Secret clearance continues to mislabel derivable classifications in documents, that put out classified information, their clearance may be cancelled. This would keep them away from restricted areas and would most definitely lead to dismissal or reporting to a desk job.
However, it is also appropriate to say that option c (mandatory training that is often prescribed as the initial corrective measure for minor violations) is not usually regarded as a sanction. Decisions marked as Option A (fines and imprisonment) are criminal penalties, not administrative penalties. The final form of the sanction which I found entirely and completely unsuitable as a genuine sanction is option d (employee commendation).
This removal of access to classified information works as a strict warning to those in possession of such information that correct measures should be taken to protect such data and derivate classification procedures should also be followed.
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