Deliberate or negligent failure to comply with rules and regulations for protecting classified or other sensitive information raises doubt about an individual’s trustworthiness, judgment, reliability or willingness and ability to safeguard such information and is a serious security concern. This includes protecting controlled but unclassified information such as For Official Use Only (FOUO), proprietary, export-controlled or privacy information.

Although the adjudicative process considers trustworthiness and reliability in regards to protecting national security-related information, an applicant’s prior history with handling other forms of protected information is relevant (e.g., mishandling proprietary information while employed with a private company).

Two general types of behaviors related to mishandling protected information are relevant to security: 1) deliberate violation of security rules and regulations and 2) pattern of negligence, carelessness or inattention to following the security rules and regulations. Any deliberate violation of security rules or regulations, including Handling Protected Information during previous employment in the private sector, is a significant concern, as it may indicate indifference toward national security or a general inability or unwillingness to abide by the security regulations.