need to know principle

USAGE SUMMARY

"need to know principle" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to the concept of limiting the access to information to only those who need to know it. For example: "In our organization, we follow the need to know principle when sharing sensitive information."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

This is the "need to know" principle in a nutshell - if the provider does not need to read the information, why should it be allowed to?

Journal of Cloud Computing: Advances, Systems and Applications

For humanitarian big data this could mean that the collection of data might strictly be governed by a "need to know" principle.

Journal of International Humanitarian Action

This view should adhere to the need to know principle and must be compliant with legal and regulatory requirements.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

The place seems to epitomise an institution that has always operated on a need-to-know principle: each unit should know only as much as is necessary to do its job and, of course, little is shared with the outside world.If architecture is any guide, the BND will soon have a very different house culture.

The Economist

In some cases there is "limited availability of information" on terrorist travellers, as well as a "sub-optimal sharing of information based on an overly strict application of the need-to-know principle", according to a draft of the information plan obtained by the Guardian.

The Guardian

Need-to-know principle not applied V37.

Journal of Cloud Computing

In combination with suitable key management, this approach implements the "need-to-know" principle of access for aggregated signals.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Excessive privilege abuse Mitigated FG authorization service Fine-grained policies in our system are defined based on "need-to-know" principle where privileges to resources are assigned from cell level to table level.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Diplomatic services have to move from the traditional need-to-know principle to a need-to-share principle.

Huffington Post

British cryptologist Alan Stripp suggests that by that time, at Bletchley Park, "very few even knew about the Polish contribution" because of the strict secrecy and the "need-to-know" principle.

Wikipedia

Some requirements can be well justified with general principles in IT security, e.g., the need-to-know principle and the principle of least privilege.

BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine the "need to know principle" with other security measures to create a robust data protection strategy.

Common error

Avoid excessively restricting information, as this can hinder collaboration and operational efficiency. Balance security with the necessary flow of information.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "need to know principle" functions as a noun phrase that identifies a specific security and information access protocol. It is used to describe a policy or guideline that limits access to sensitive information. Ludwig confirms this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The "need to know principle" is a core concept in data security and access control, ensuring that sensitive information is only available to those who require it for their job or specific tasks. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and primarily used in professional and security-related contexts. While the phrase itself appears relatively infrequently, understanding its application is crucial for managing confidentiality and minimizing risk. Alternative phrases, such as "principle of least privilege" or "confidentiality policy", offer related concepts but emphasize different aspects of information security. When implementing this principle, it's essential to balance security with the need for collaboration and avoid overly restricting information flow, which can hinder operational efficiency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

principle of least privilege

Focuses on granting the minimum necessary access rights.

confidentiality policy

Refers to a formal set of guidelines regarding sensitive information.

information security protocol

Highlights the procedural aspect of securing data.

data access restriction

Emphasizes limiting access to specific data sets.

access control mechanism

Focuses on technical means of controlling information access.

classified information handling

Deals specifically with the management of classified data.

limited disclosure policy

Addresses the rules surrounding what information can be shared.

restricted data access

Highlights the limitations placed on accessing specific data.

need-to-share principle

Contrasts with the original phrase, emphasizing information sharing instead of restriction.

discretionary access control

Refers to access control based on user identity and authorization.

FAQs

How can the "need to know principle" be applied in practice?

The "need to know principle" is applied by granting access to information only to individuals who require it to perform their job duties. This often involves access control systems, role-based permissions, and data classification.

What is the difference between the "need to know principle" and the principle of least privilege?

While related, the "need to know principle" focuses on who has access to what information based on their role, while the "principle of least privilege" focuses on granting the minimum necessary access rights required to perform a specific task.

What are the potential drawbacks of the "need to know principle"?

Overly strict application of the "need to know principle" can hinder collaboration, create information silos, and reduce overall organizational agility. It's important to balance security with the need for efficient information sharing.

How does the "need to know principle" relate to data security?

The "need to know principle" is a fundamental concept in data security, aimed at reducing the risk of data breaches and unauthorized access. By limiting access to sensitive information, organizations can minimize the potential damage from insider threats or external attacks.