ISC2 CISSP Practice Question

The primary basis for classifying information assets should be the value of the asset to the organization and the impact if confidentiality, integrity, or availability is compromised. Asset classification should reflect how critical the asset is to business operations and the potential damage from unauthorized disclosure, modification, or unavailability.

While acquisition cost might seem reasonable, it doesn't necessarily correlate with an asset's current value or importance to the organization. A low-cost database could contain highly sensitive customer information worth far more than its purchase price.

Physical location isn't a primary classification criterion as the same type of asset might require the same protection regardless of location. Additionally, with cloud computing and distributed systems, location becomes less relevant for classification purposes.

The department that owns the asset might influence who is responsible for the asset, but it doesn't determine its sensitivity or value. Different departments may have assets of varying sensitivity levels.