| Security attributes are abstractions representing the basic properties or characteristics of an entity (e.g., subjects and objects) with respect to safeguarding information. These attributes are typically associated with internal data structures (e.g., records, buffers, files, registry keys) within the information system and are used to enable the implementation of access control and flow control policies, reflect special dissemination, handling or distribution instructions, or support other aspects of the information security policy. Examples of application security attributes are classified, FOUO, sensitive, etc.
The term security label is often used to associate a set of security attributes with a specific information object as part of the data structure for that object (e.g., user access privileges, nationality, affiliation as contractor). A security label is defined as: the means used to associate a set of security attributes with a specific information object as part of the data structure for that object.
Security attributes need to be displayed in human readable form in order to determine how the data should be disseminated, handled and what distribution instructions apply to the data. When applications generate or output data, the associated security attributes need to be displayed.
Objects output from the information system include, for example, pages, screens, or equivalent. Output devices include, for example, printers and video displays on computer terminals, monitors, screens on notebook/laptop computers and personal digital assistants. |
