Workplace glossary

What is Security Clearance?

Definition & practical guide1 min read

Security clearance is the vetting that controls who may access certain government buildings, zones and information, from baseline checks through to the highest national security levels. Many public-sector sites mix clearance levels in one building.

On this page

That mix is a workplace-operations problem: cleared-only zones need booking permissions that respect vetting status, visitors need escorting rules, and an accurate live record of who is where stops being admin and starts being a security control. See visitor management and access control.

Common questions

What does Security Clearance mean in simple terms?

Security clearance is the vetting that controls who may access certain government buildings, zones and information, from baseline checks through to the highest national security levels. Many public-sector sites mix clearance levels in one building.

What are the rules around Security Clearance?

That mix is a workplace-operations problem: cleared-only zones need booking permissions that respect vetting status, visitors need escorting rules, and an accurate live record of who is where stops being admin and starts being a security control. See visitor management and access control.