Security Protection Levels

Security Protection Levels — PL1, PL2, PL3, PL4

Four Protection Levels

4 Protection Levels.

Protection Level 1 (PL1)
Protection Level 2 (PL2)
Protection Level 3 (PL3)
Protection Level 4 (PL4)

Protection Level 1 (PL1)

PL1 Assignment

Assigned to those resources for which the loss, theft, destruction, damage, misuse, or compromise would result in:

Unacceptable mission degradation to the strategic capability of the United States
Or catastrophic consequences for the nation

PL1 Security Standard

PL1 security must result in the GREATEST possible deterrence against hostile acts.

PL1 Detection

This level of security will provide MAXIMUM means to detect and defeat a hostile force before it is able to seize, damage, or destroy resources.

PL1 Examples

PL1 Examples.

Nuclear weapons in storage mated to a delivery system or in transit
Designated command, control, and communications facilities
Aircraft designated to transport the U.S. President

Protection Level 2 (PL2)

PL2 Assignment

Assigned to resources for which the loss, theft, destruction, damage, misuse, or compromise would result in significant mission degradation to the war fighting capability of the United States.

PL2 Security Standard

PL2 security must result in SIGNIFICANT deterrence against hostile acts.

PL2 Detection

This level of security will ensure a SIGNIFICANT probability of detecting and defeating a hostile force before it is able to seize, damage, or destroy resources.

PL2 Examples

PL2 Examples.

Nonnuclear alert forces
Designated space and launch systems
Expensive, few in number, or one-of-a-kind systems or facilities
Intelligence-gathering systems

Protection Level 3 (PL3)

PL3 Assignment

Assigned to resources for which the loss, theft, destruction, damage, misuse, or compromise would result in mission degradation to the United States warfighting capability.

PL3 Security Standard

PL3 security must result in a REASONABLE degree of deterrence against hostile acts.

PL3 Capability

This level of security ensures the capability to:

Impede a hostile force
Limit damage to resources

PL3 Examples

PL3 Examples.

Non-alert resources that can be generated to alert status
Selected command, control, and communications facilities, systems, and equipment
Non-launch-critical or non-unique space launch systems

Protection Level 4 (PL4)

PL4 Assignment

Assigned to operational or mission support resources that directly or indirectly support power projection assets and the war fighting mission for which the loss, theft, destruction, misuse, or compromise would adversely affect mission capability.

PL4 Security Method

PL4 resources are secured by:

Containing them in controlled areas
With owners or users being responsible for security

PL4 Response

Security forces provide response to threats.

PL4 Standard

This level of security must reduce the opportunity for theft of or damage to resources.

PL4 Examples

PL4 Examples.

Facilities storing Category I, II, or III sensitive conventional arms, ammunition, and explosives
Fuels and liquid oxygen storage areas
USAF accounting and finance vault areas