Data Handling Policy

Traffic Light Protocol (TLP)

Traffic Light Protocol (TLP) is used to facilitate greater sharing of information while ensuring that sensitive information is shared with the appropriate audience. It employs five official marking options to indicate expected sharing boundaries to be applied by the recipient(s). If a recipient needs to share the information more widely than indicated by the original TLP designation, they must obtain explicit permission from the original source. 

COLOR 

WHEN SHOULD IT BE USED? 

HOW MAY IT BE SHARED? 

TLP:RED

TLP:RED

Not for disclosure, restricted to participants only. 

Sources should use TLP:RED when information cannot be effectively acted upon without significant risk for the privacy, reputation, or operations of the organizations involved. For the eyes and ears of individual recipients only, no further. 

Recipients may not share TLP:RED information with any parties outside of the specific exchange, meeting, or conversation in which it was originally disclosed. In the context of a meeting, for example, this information is limited to those present at the meeting. In most circumstances, this information should be exchanged verbally or in person. 

TLP:AMBER+STRICT

TLP:AMBER

Limited need-to-know disclosure, restricted to participants’ organization.

Sources should use TLP:AMBER+STRICT when information requires support to be effectively acted upon, yet carries risk to privacy, reputation, or operations if shared outside of the organization. 

Recipients may share TLP:AMBER+STRICT information only with members of their own organization on a need-to-know basis to protect their organization and prevent further harm. 

TLP:AMBER

TLP:AMBER

Limited need-to-know disclosure, restricted to participants’ organization and its business partners.

Sources should use TLP:AMBER when information requires support to be effectively acted upon, yet carries risk to privacy, reputation, or operations if shared outside of the organizations involved.

Recipients may share TLP:AMBER information with members of their own organization and its business partners on a need-to-know basis to protect their organization and its business partners and prevent further harm.

TLP:GREEN

TLP:GREEN

Limited disclosure, restricted to the cybersecurity community. 

Sources should use TLP:GREEN when information is useful to increase awareness within their wider community. 

Recipients may share TLP:GREEN information with peers and partner organizations within their community, but not via publicly accessible channels. Unless otherwise specified, this information may not be shared outside of the cybersecurity community.

TLP:CLEAR

TLP:WHITE

Disclosure is not limited. 

Sources should use TLP:CLEAR when information carries minimal or no foreseeable risk of misuse, in accordance with applicable rules and procedures for public release. 

Recipients may share this information without restriction. Information is subject to standard copyright rules.