Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI)

Home > Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI) > CUI Category: Operations Security

CUI Category: Operations Security

Banner Marking: CUI

Category Description:

Critical information determined to give evidence of the planning and execution of sensitive (frequently classified) government activities after going through a formal systematic vetting process in accordance with National Security Presidential Memorandum Number 28. This process identifies unclassified information that must be protected. It almost always results from an agency’s official OPSEC program, or is otherwise commonly approved for use by the CUI Senior Agency Official.
Category Marking: OPSEC
Alternative Banner Marking for Basic Authorities: CUI//OPSEC
Banner Format and Marking Notes:
Snippet

Banner Format:

CUI//Category Marking//Limited Dissemination Control

 

Marking Notes:

  • The CUI Control Marking may consist of either the word “CONTROLLED” or the acronym “CUI”, depending on agency policy.
  • Category marking is optional when marking Basic CUI unless required by agency policy. Example: CUI//Limited Dissemination Control.
  • Category Marking preceded by "SP-" is required when marking Specified CUI. Example: CUI//SP-Category Marking//Limited Dissemination Control
  • Whether CUI is Basic or Specified is determined by the applicable Safeguarding and/or Dissemination Authority for a given instance of CUI.
  • Separate multiple Category Markings by a single forward slash (/) and list Category Markings alphabetically. Example: CUI//Category Marking A/Category Marking B//Limited Dissemination Control
  • Category Markings for Specified CUI precede Category Markings for Basic CUI. Example: CUI//SP-Category Marking/Category Marking//Limited Dissemination Control
  • Separate multiple Limited Dissemination Controls by a single forward slash (/). Example: CUI//Category Marking//Limited Dissemination Control/Limited Dissemination Control
  • Reference 32 CFR 2002.20, CUI Marking Handbook, Limited Dissemination Controls and individual agency policy for additional and specific marking guidelines

 

 

Snippet

Notes for Safeguarding, Dissemination and Sanction Authorities:

  • Whether CUI is Basic or Specified is determined by the applicable Safeguarding and/or Dissemination Authority for that CUI.
  • Each "Safeguarding and/or Dissemination Authority" citation links to the statute, regulation or government-wide policy authorizing the control of that information as CUI.
  • Each "Sanctions" authority links to the statute, regulation or government-wide policy that includes penalties for CUI misuse of CUI for the associated "Safeguarding and/or Dissemination Authority" on the same line.
Safeguarding and/or Dissemination Authority Basic or
Specified		 Banner Marking Sanctions
NSPM 28 Basic CUI  

 

Snippet

Authority links are updated based on regular re-publication of the United States Code and Code of Federal Regulations, and the CUI Registry maintenance schedule.

 

Top