Confidentiality

Definition: Confidentiality refers to the obligation not to disclose or transmit information to unauthorized parties. In technology, this refers to a designation of the security classification below secret.

What This Means: In education, confidentiality is especially important with regard to individually identifiable student information, which must be maintained confidential according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Education organizations must have policies and procedures that ensure that no one has unauthorized access to confidential student data.

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