What is need to know basis?

Need to know basis refers to a security practice that involves limiting access to sensitive or classified information only to individuals who require it for their job or duties. This is done to prevent unauthorized access, disclosure or theft of critical information.

The principle of need to know is widely used by organizations, governments and military institutions to safeguard their confidential information. By restricting access to sensitive data to only authorized personnel, the risk of data breaches or data leaks can be significantly reduced.

In the context of information security, the need to know principle applies to both physical and digital data. It involves the creation of a secure environment and ensuring that only authorized personnel are granted access to sensitive data.

The need to know principle is also closely related to the concept of least privilege, which involves giving users only the minimum level of access they need to perform their work effectively. This reduces the risk of accidental or intentional misuse of sensitive information.