Information that needs protection is contained in hard copy, electronic form, and equipment. The protected material handled by embassies consists mostly of instructions, reports, and code material. An information’s contents determine whether it is classified; the grade of classification depends on the estimated danger that disclosure would bring to bear on the country’s security, defense, or international relations. If the compromise of information would damage the national interests in an exceptionally grave manner, the material must be classified as TOP SECRET; in case of possible serious damage, the classification must be SECRET; in case of possible significant damage, the classification must be CONFIDENTIAL. If the compromise of information would be likely to affect the national interests in an adverse manner, the classification RESTRICTED must be used. The manual lays down guidelines for classification, the necessary clearance levels, manual transmission, and manual storage. It also allows the electronic transmission and storage for all grades of classified information, provided the information is encrypted. New Zealand’s manual also warns against over classification. Indeed, over classification seems to be a problem for some foreign services. On the other hand, embassies of other foreign services are not inclined to over classify documents: the higher a document is classified the more tiresome it is to handle it. The same can be true with ICT-supported communication. When the Canadian foreign service demanded that each single official had to classify his own document classification levels went down. It was to complicated to use the procedures for classified material.