What are the four Protection Level categories?

The four Protection Level categories are indeed PL1, PL2, PL3, and PL4. These categories are defined by the Department of Defense and are essential for determining the level of security required for different types of resources.

PL1 encompasses the highest level of protection for the most critical assets, such as nuclear weapons and command and control systems. PL2 includes resources that, if compromised, could significantly harm national security or lead to serious consequences. PL3 covers assets that, while important, do not meet the criteria for PL1 or PL2 but still require a moderate level of protection. Lastly, PL4 represents the lowest level of protection, typically applied to resources that are still valuable but do not have the same level of risk associated with them as those in the higher categories.

This tiered approach helps prioritize security measures and resource allocation, ensuring that the most critical items receive the appropriate level of security to mitigate risks effectively.