Inside the Ring

If what I read is accurate, this isn't a machine problem, it's human error--or people doing what they know is wrong in the first place. Calls for some leadership and butt-kicking not technical fixes.

The entire military should have these documents coded so that no one could access them or print them without entering the proper codes. They could also have the computers reject anything that is coded as classified. Programming is possible to stop the human errors. However, the humans must be held responsible for the improper handling of classified documents. We used to have a system of signing for the receipt of classified documents according to access level. Thus everyone knew who had seen the document or had a copy of it.

Coding documents is not the answer and will just create another level of cyber-bureacracy. It is a human error issue & a lack of understanding of the classification guidance or a very liberal reading too avoid using classified procedures. The leadership does need to kick some butts, but it also needs to get off its butt and update guidance that many cases is several years out of date.