What should be done upon finding unsecured classified material?

When encountering unsecured classified material, the appropriate response is to protect it and promptly notify the security manager. This action is critical because unsecured classified information poses a significant risk to national security and can compromise sensitive operations or insights.

By protecting the material, you help to mitigate the risk of unauthorized access or exposure. Notifying the security manager then ensures that the proper procedures are followed in securing the material and addressing the situation in a systematic manner. This step is essential for maintaining compliance with security protocols and reinforcing a culture of accountability regarding the handling of classified information.

In other scenarios, ignoring the situation would not only fail to address the potential risks but could also lead to further insecurity. Storing the material in a makeshift secure location does not meet the established protocols, and reporting it only if discovered by multiple individuals undermines the responsibility of individuals to act decisively in safeguarding classified information.