need to know

nouncandidate·updated May 12, 2026

GlossaryL1 — what DictionaryL2 — how used ThesaurusL3 — relations Universaleverything

An administrative action officially declaring a particular individual requires access to specified sensitive or classified information in order to perform their assigned duties.

Framework senses

3 senses across 3 frameworks

NERC CIP-003-6 (Security Management Controls) v61 senseview framework →

§1: An administrative action officially declaring a particular individual requires access to specified sensitive or classified information in order to perform their assigned duties.

NISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 21 senseview framework →

§1: A method of isolating information resources based on a user’s need to have access to that resource in order to perform their job but no more. The terms ‘need-to know” and “least privilege” express the same idea. Need-to-know is generally applied to people, while least privilege is generally applied to processes.

CNSSI-4009 (Glossary of Information Assurance Terms)1 senseview framework →

§1: A method of isolating information resources based on a user’s need to have access to that resource in order to perform their job but no more. The terms ‘need-to know” and “least privilege” express the same idea. Need-to-know is generally applied to people, while least privilege is generally applied to processes.